Epstein files photo featuring Trump restored to DOJ website

(NewsNation) — The U.S. Department of Justice on Sunday restored an online photo that includes images of Donald Trump to the agency’s public archive of Epstein files after Democrats accused prosecutors of trying to shield the president.

The photo first surfaced Friday as part of the DOJ’s congressionally mandated dump of documents related to sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, the well-connected financier who died by suicide in 2019 while awaiting trial on federal sex trafficking charges.

The picture in question had vanished by Saturday, according to The Associated Press, which said more than a dozen items were pulled.

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The photograph shows a desk and drawer filled with snapshots of famous people. It included at least two images of Trump, who was a celebrity developer and friend of Epstein. In one image, a younger Trump is seen surrounded by women. A second, partially covered photo shows Trump with first lady Melania Trump, Epstein and his associate Ghislaine Maxwell in 2000.

Justice Department officials went into damage-control mode after Democrats on the House Oversight Committee cried foul and alleged a coverup. Saturday, a DOJ post on social media suggested any removals were made to protect the identity of Epstein’s victims: “Photos and other materials will continue being reviewed and redacted consistent with the law in an abundance of caution as we receive additional information.”

On Sunday, the agency announced the photo including Trump had been restored after review.

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“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,” the DOJ said on X.

Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche said earlier on Sunday his office removed the photo because of concerns about women in the photo. “It has nothing to do with President Trump,” Blanche said during a Sunday morning appearance on NBC’s “Meet the Press with Kristen Welker.”

The Justice Department released hundreds of thousands of documents on Friday, under a measure passed by Congress and signed by Trump. But it has drawn criticism, including from some Republicans, over extensive redactions and few documents mentioning Trump despite his well-publicized friendship with Epstein.

During an ABC News interview on Sunday, Democratic House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries called for a “full and complete investigation as to why the document production has fallen short of what the law clearly required.”

Trump, a Republican serving his second term as president, has not been accused of wrongdoing. He has said he was friends with Epstein until the early-2000s, when the two had a falling out, and did not know about the crimes he committed.

Reuters contributed to this report.

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