Washington (Rajeev Sharma): A set of files connected to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein was abruptly taken down from a US Justice Department website within a day of being published, with officials offering no public explanation for their removal. The unexplained disappearance has reignited debate over transparency and accountability in one of the most scrutinized criminal cases in recent history.
At least 16 documents that were visible online on Friday were no longer accessible by Saturday. Among them was a photograph that included former US President Donald Trump standing alongside Epstein, Melania Trump and Epstein’s close associate Ghislaine Maxwell. The image appeared within a collection of photographs stored inside furniture drawers at one of Epstein’s properties, according to descriptions of the file.
Other missing records reportedly featured images of paintings portraying nude women and detailed photographs of Epstein’s residences in New York and the US Virgin Islands. The Justice Department has not clarified whether the files were removed intentionally or due to a technical issue, and no notice was issued to inform the public of the change.
The sudden removal sparked immediate speculation online, adding to long-standing public suspicion surrounding Epstein’s relationships with powerful figures. Democrats on the House Oversight Committee drew attention to the missing Trump-related image in a social media post, questioning what else might have been withheld from public view.
The controversy comes amid criticism of the Justice Department’s broader document release, which was mandated under a recently passed law. While tens of thousands of pages were made public, many observers argue the disclosures failed to answer key questions about Epstein’s case, particularly how he avoided serious federal charges for years.
Absent from the initial release were FBI interviews with survivors and internal Justice Department documents examining prosecutorial decisions — materials widely viewed as central to understanding why Epstein was allowed to plead guilty in 2008 to a lesser state-level offense. References to several influential individuals long associated with Epstein, including Britain’s former Prince Andrew, were also largely missing.
What the release did include were extensive photographs of Epstein’s properties and limited new details, such as information about a federal investigation that was later dropped and a 1996 complaint alleging Epstein stole photographs of children. There were also previously unseen images of former President Bill Clinton, though only a small number involving Trump. Both men have acknowledged knowing Epstein socially while denying any awareness of his criminal conduct, and neither has been accused of wrongdoing.
Despite a congressional deadline requiring full disclosure, the Justice Department has said additional records will be released gradually, citing the need to protect the identities of victims through redactions. No timeline has been given for future releases, leaving uncertainty over what information remains undisclosed and why some files briefly made public have now vanished.
