Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche stated on Sunday that his office had withdrawn Trump’s photograph from the Epstein Files owing to concerns regarding the women pictured.
Washington: The United States Department of Justice has reinstated a photograph featuring President Donald Trump on Sunday from the recently released Jeffrey Epstein files, confirming that no victims are depicted in the image.
Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche said his office had temporarily withdrawn the photograph due to concerns regarding the woman pictured. He added that the decision had “nothing to do” with President Trump during an appearance on NBC’s Meet the Press with Kristen Welker.
Also Read
The photograph was initially removed after the Southern District of New York flagged it for review, citing concerns about protecting victims.
In a statement posted on X, the DOJ explained, “The Southern District of New York flagged an image of President Trump for potential further action to protect victims. 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.”
At least 16 files from the batch of Epstein documents had been temporarily removed from the DOJ’s website as of Saturday. These included the Trump photograph, alongside images of explicit artwork, mail slots filled with envelopes, a tiled hallway, and a notebook page listing names and apartment numbers.
In one photo, Trump is seen with a group of women, while another shows him with his wife, Melania, together with Epstein and his now-convicted associate Ghislaine Maxwell. The collection also includes photographs of former President Bill Clinton.
In a press release, the DOJ emphasised its commitment to transparency, stating that redactions are made only when legally required. The Department is obliged to withhold identifying information relating to victims, minors, or potential victims, as well as privileged material.
The DOJ stressed that no redactions have been, nor will be, applied to protect prominent people or politically exposed persons. Officials noted that the Department has received requests from individuals claiming to be victims, and from their legal representatives, asking for certain material to be removed. Such content, the DOJ said, is taken down temporarily for review and reissued with redactions only when mandated by law.
Published: 22 Dec 2025, 11:38 am IST
Subscribe to our Newsletter
Disclaimer: Kindly avoid objectionable, derogatory, unlawful and lewd comments, while responding to reports. Such comments are punishable under cyber laws. Please keep away from personal attacks. The opinions expressed here are the personal opinions of readers and not that of Mathrubhumi.