Facing intense criticism over an alleged “cover-up” of documents related to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, the US Department of Justice (DOJ) on Sunday re-uploaded a photograph of President Donald Trump that had been found among the disgraced financier’s belongings. In a social media statement, the DOJ said the image was initially removed from its website as a precautionary measure. It added that the photo was restored after a review confirmed that it did not depict any of Epstein’s victims.
Statement issued by US Justice department
"The Southern District of New York flagged an image of President Trump for potential further action to protect victims," said the US Justice Department.
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"Out of an abundance of caution, the Department of Justice temporarily removed the image for further review. After the review, it was determined there is no evidence that any Epstein victims are depicted in the photograph, and it has been reposted without any alteration or redaction," it further added.
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Netizens were not amused; here's what they said
A user commented on X, "Sorry we got caught," wrote one user on X, while another added, "The taxpayers who pay your salaries demand complete transparency from our government. The more you attempt to hide the perpetrators of these heinous acts, the more you expose your partiality. Justice is meant to be blind, not partisan." Another user however wrote, "I don't know what's more worrying, that attempt at corruption, or the incompetence at carrying it out."
The image in question shows a desk with printed photographs recovered from Jeffrey Epstein’s belongings. Among them was a photo featuring US President Donald Trump, Melania Trump, Epstein, and Ghislaine Maxwell.
Allegations of a Cover-Up
The photo was initially uploaded as part of thousands of files released by the US Department of Justice (DOJ) on Friday. However, it was removed shortly afterward, triggering strong criticism online and claims of a possible cover-up. As social media users questioned the removal of the image, listed as file 468, Democrats on the House Oversight Committee also raised concerns. They asked Attorney General Pam Bondi what else might be hidden and called for full transparency for the American public.
The Trump photo was not the only issue. Reports over the weekend claimed that 15 to 16 files were taken down from the DOJ website soon after the latest Epstein files were released, further fueling suspicion.
DOJ responds to criticism
Responding to mounting pressure, Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche said on Sunday that the removals were not related to Trump. He explained that the files were taken down to protect the identities of Epstein’s victims, following requests from victim advocacy groups.
"You can see in that photo there are photographs of women. And so we learned after releasing that photograph that there were concerns about those women and the fact that we had put that photo up. So we pulled that photo down. It has nothing to do with President Trump," Blanche, who has emerged as the DOJ’s main spokesperson on questions related to the Epstein files, made the remarks during NBC’s “Meet the Press” programme on Sunday.
Redactions in Epstein Files Trigger Fresh Backlash
The removal of a single photo was not the only issue that angered many Americans. The newly released set of Epstein files contained heavy redactions, including a 119-page Grand Jury document that was completely blacked out. Critics argued that this went against the spirit of full transparency promised under the recently passed Epstein Files Transparency Act.
In response to the criticism, the Department of Justice (DOJ) on Sunday released a revised version of the 119-page document with minimal redactions. The DOJ said that documents and photographs would continue to be reviewed in line with the law and with caution to protect victims and their families.