Removal and Reinstatement Triggered by Victim Concerns The Justice Department temporarily removed a desk‑drawer photograph of Donald Trump from its online Epstein file cache after victims raised concerns. The Southern District of New York flagged the image as potentially depicting victims, prompting an “abundance of caution” removal. After an internal review, Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche ordered the photo to be reposted unchanged on Dec 21, 2025, stating the action was unrelated to the president himself. [1][2]

DOJ Asserts No Victim Depiction in Restored Image The Justice Department publicly declared that the reinstated photograph contains no evidence of Epstein victims. Both agencies emphasized that the image shows Trump with several women but does not identify any alleged victims. This assessment guided the decision to restore the file without redaction. [1][2]

Thousands of Epstein Documents Released Simultaneously On the same Friday, DOJ uploaded thousands of Epstein‑related documents, many heavily redacted. The release sparked criticism from House Democrats, who demanded a full investigation into compliance with legal production requirements. Republicans noted the sparse references to Trump despite his known association with Epstein. [1][2]

Political Reactions Highlight Oversight and Accountability Concerns House Oversight Committee members publicly questioned Attorney General Pam Bondi about the temporary removal, suggesting possible cover‑up. Democrat leader Hakeem Jeffries called for a comprehensive probe of the document release process. Republican Congressman Thomas Massie announced plans to draft inherent contempt charges against Bondi for missing congressional deadlines. [1][2]