Thousands of Epstein files were released on Friday – but some of them didn’t stick around for long. A number of documents published by the Department of Justice on December 19 have already disappeared. And one particular photo – featuring Donald Trump – has left people questioning the motive behind the apparent withdrawal.
The Department of Justice released some Epstein Files, but quickly removed those including Donald Trump
Among the files removed from the DOJ website was reportedly one of Trump, per the Associated Press. Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche was questioned about the disappearing files on NBC’s Meet the Press.
He said: “There were a number of photographs that were pulled down after being released on Friday. That’s because a judge in New York has ordered us to listen to any victim or victim rights group, if they have any concerns about the material that we’re putting up.”
He added: “If we need to redact faces or other information, we will, and then we’ll put it back up. So we are, in every way, shape and form, complying with the statute.”
A reporter then mentioned the photo in question, which appeared to show a desk with an open drawer containing a photo of Trump. She asked Blanche to confirm whether it had been removed at the request of a judge. Blanche replied: “You can see in that photo, there’s photographs of women. 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.”
The files were released following the President’s signing of the Epstein Files Transparency Act last month. The DOJ has to publish all the documents related to the Epstein investigations as a result.
Around 16 documents are believed to have been taken down since being published on Friday.
Jeffrey Epstein’s brother previously voiced claims that the files are being “sanitized” to protect Republicans.
TELL US – WILL ALL OF THE REMOVED FILES FIND THEIR WAY BACK TO THE DOJ WEBSITE?
