Washington: Several documents connected to disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein were quietly removed from a US Justice Department website less than 24 hours after being made public, triggering renewed criticism and speculation over the government’s handling of the highly sensitive case.
At least 16 files that appeared online on Friday were no longer accessible by Saturday, with no public explanation or notice from authorities. Among the missing material was a photograph showing former President Donald Trump alongside Epstein, Melania Trump and Epstein’s longtime associate Ghislaine Maxwell. The image reportedly appeared inside a drawer among other photographs documented in Epstein-related files.
Other removed records included images of artwork depicting nude women and photos showing the interiors of Epstein’s residences, including drawers and furniture displaying personal items. The Justice Department has not clarified whether the disappearance was accidental or deliberate. Requests for comment from department officials went unanswered.
The unexplained removal quickly drew attention online, intensifying long-standing public interest in Epstein’s connections to influential figures. Democratic members of the House Oversight Committee highlighted the missing Trump-related image in a social media post, questioning what else may have been withheld and calling for greater transparency.
The incident has added to broader concerns surrounding the Justice Department’s recent release of tens of thousands of pages of Epstein-related documents. While the disclosures were highly anticipated, critics say they offered limited new insight into Epstein’s crimes or the decisions that allowed him to avoid serious federal prosecution for years.
Notably absent from the initial release were FBI interviews with survivors and internal Justice Department memoranda analyzing charging decisions — records seen as crucial to understanding how Epstein was able to secure a 2008 plea deal on relatively minor state charges. Also missing were detailed references to several prominent individuals long linked to Epstein, including Britain’s former Prince Andrew.
The documents that were released largely consisted of photographs of Epstein’s properties in New York and the US Virgin Islands, along with some images involving well-known public figures. Newly surfaced materials included information about a previously abandoned federal investigation in the 2000s and a 1996 complaint accusing Epstein of stealing photographs of children.
Both Trump and former President Bill Clinton have appeared in past Epstein-related photos and have acknowledged social interactions with him, while denying any knowledge of criminal activity. Neither has been accused of wrongdoing in connection with Epstein, and there is no indication the images played a role in criminal cases against him.
Although Congress set a deadline for the full release of Epstein-related records, the Justice Department has said the documents will be made public in stages, citing the need to protect victims’ identities through extensive redactions. No timeline has been provided for future releases, leaving questions about what additional information may still emerge.
