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Democrats accused the DOJ of deleting the previously available photograph that appeared to be Trump with a group of women
Josh Marcus in San Francisco & Rhian LubinSunday 21 December 2025 02:20 GMT- Bookmark
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CloseEpstein survivors' lawyer hits out at redaction of newly released files
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The Trump administration faced renewed calls of a cover-up Saturday after Democrats claimed the Justice Department had deleted a photo featuring President Donald Trump that was part of the Epstein files library on Friday.
Democrats on the House Oversight Committee accused the DOJ of deleting the previously available file, which showed a photo of a drawer crammed with papers and photos, including one image of a man who appeared to be Trump with a group of women.
"What else is being covered up?" the committee asked in an X post.
Critics from both sides of the aisle have accused the DOJ of heavily redacting the materials and failing to meet a legal deadline to share all documents in its possession by Friday.
The White House did not comment directly on The Independent's request for comment on the alleged disappearance of the Trump photo but said the Epstein files release makes this administration “the most transparent in history.”
The Justice Department has acknowledged that the files were only partially released and said the entirety would follow in a “couple of weeks.”
The Epstein files so far include an extensive library of legal documents, paperwork and photos, including several images of former President Bill Clinton lounging in a hot tub and pool, and Epstein with a host of prominent figures, including Michael Jackson.
Many of the photos and documents in the Epstein files are undated and offer little context. Inclusion in the Epstein files does not suggest wrongdoing.
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- Democrats critcise partial release of Epstein files
- Photos of Bill Clinton, Michael Jackson, former Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson feature in Epstein files
- Epstein survivors accuse Trump administration of ‘negligence’
Ro Khanna takes a swipe a JD Vance as 2021 social media post emerges
Representative Ro Khanna — a California Democrat who, along with Republican congressman Thomas Massie of Kentucky, led the charge to release the Epstein files, has highlighted one of Vice President JD Vance’s old social media posts calling for the documents to be released.
In 2021, Vance posted: “What possible interest would the US government have in keeping Epstein’s clients secret? Oh...”
Khanna shared the post to his X account and accused Attorney General Pam Bondi of breaking the law.
Rhian Lubin21 December 2025 02:20Gavin Newsom: "What are Trump, Bondi, and Kash hiding?"
California Gov. Gavin Newsom’s team has asked: “What are Trump, Bondi, and Kash hiding?” after it emerged the Justice Department has removed 16 documents in the Epstein files it released Friday.
Newsom’s official press office account on X also pointed out that FBI deputy director Dan Bongino announced he would be leaving his role in January 2026, just a few days before the documents were dropped.
Bongino, who has long campaigned for the release of the documents in the late sex offender’s case, reportedly clashed with Attorney General Pam Bondi during the summer over her handling of the Epstein files and the release of a joint memo that attempted to draw a line under the saga.
Rhian Lubin21 December 2025 01:50Has Trump said anything about the Epstein files release?
President Donald Trump has not acknowledged or commented publicly on the release of the Epstein files.
On his way to a rally Friday night in North Carolina, the president made brief remarks to reporters about drug prices, which he touched on during his speech, but ignored any questions on Epstein.
Trump spoke for 90 minutes at a rally in Rocky Mount and made no mention of Epstein during his speech.
Trump at the North Carolina rally (Getty Images)Rhian Lubin21 December 2025 01:15Watch: ‘Stop redacting names’ says Epstein survivor Marina Lacerda
Jeffrey Epstein survivor Marina Lacerda has spoken out after thousands of documents released from the Jeffrey Epstein case were heavily redacted.
“Just put out the files and stop redacting names that don't need to be redacted. It's just - who are we trying to protect?” said Marina Lacerda, who has publicly identified herself as someone who was abused by the late convicted sex offender.
'Stop redacting names' says Epstein survivor Marina Lacerda after release of filesRhian Lubin21 December 2025 00:50More Democrats accused Trump's DOJ of a 'cover-up'
Rep. Jimmy Gomez of California was among Democrats accusing the Trump administration of a “cover-up” over the Epstein files release.
Rhian Lubin21 December 2025 00:20Scant new insight in the initial disclosures
Some of the most consequential records expected about Jeffrey Epstein are nowhere to be found in the Justice Department’s initial disclosures, which span tens of thousands of pages.
Missing are FBI interviews with survivors and internal Justice Department memos examining charging decisions — records that could have helped explain how investigators viewed the case and why Epstein was allowed in 2008 to plead guilty to a relatively minor state-level prostitution charge.
The gaps go further.
The records, required to be released under a recent law passed by Congress, hardly reference several powerful figures long associated with Epstein, including Britain’s former Prince Andrew, renewing questions about who was scrutinized, who was not, and how much the disclosures truly advance public accountability.
A photo of Jeffrey Epstein released in the latest tranche of documents (DOJ)Rhian Lubin, AP20 December 2025 23:55Full story: Democrats claim DOJ has deleted Trump photo from Epstein files
The Department of Justice appears to have removed 16 files from the document dump that landed Friday afternoon, though the department has not offered any explanation as to why.
One of the documents that no longer appears is a photograph of Jeffrey Epstein’s desk or bureau, with the drawers open.
Visible is a photograph of a man who appears to be President Donald Trump standing in the middle of a group of women.
This file, number 468, is no longer visible in a list of documents on the DOJ’s website.
Other documents that no longer appear include photos of what looks to be a massage room where the walls are adorned with nude images of women.
The DOJ did not immediately respond to a request for comment from The Independent as to why some documents have been removed.
Rhian Lubin20 December 2025 23:48Full story: Democrats claim DOJ has deleted Trump photo from Epstein files
The Department of Justice has removed at least 16 files from the Jeffrey Epstein documents it released Friday without any explanation, including one including a picture of President Donald Trump, as Democrats accused the administration of a “cover-up.”
Trump’s photograph appeared several times among the thousands of documents, which were undated and lacked any context.
Among the files that appear to have been removed from the DOJ’s website since Friday’s publication is a photograph taken of Epstein’s desk or a bureau, with the drawers open.
Inside the drawers is a photo of a man who appears to be Trump, dressed in a white shirt, standing with a group of women, including at least one who is wearing a bikini. The identities of the women are not known and their faces were not redacted in the photograph.
Read the full story below.
Democrats claim DOJ has deleted Trump photo from Epstein files
The documents were removed by the Justice Department without explanationRhian Lubin20 December 2025 23:00Epstein files deletion could be 'one of the biggest cover ups in American history'
The Justice Department allegedly removed a previously released image from the Epstein files that contained photos that appeared to show Donald Trump (DOJ)Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer fumed on Saturday about the Justice Department’s apparent removal of a series of previously released Epstein files from its web page, including one that appeared to reference the president.
In one of the files, it appeared multiple photos of Donald Trump could be seen, including one with him standing with a group of women.
“This is what Susie Wiles meant when she said Trump and Epstein were ‘young, single playboys together,’” Schumer wrote on X, referencing recent comments from the White House chief of staff Susie Wiles downplaying the president’s prior friendship with the late sex offender.
“And if they’re taking this down, just imagine how much more they’re trying to hide…” Schumer continued. “This could be one of the biggest cover ups in American history.”
Trump’s chief of staff confirms Trump is in the Epstein files as she torches Bondi
Wiles also torched Pam Bondi for her handling of the Epstein matter and described JD Vance as a longtime ‘conspiracy theorist’Josh Marcus20 December 2025 22:40READ: New Epstein docs released, including from Epstein and Maxwell cases
The Justice Department released a new batch of Epstein files on Saturday, including grand jury documents from past cases against the late sex offender and his living associate Ghislaine Maxwell.
In one document, an FBI agent testified that an Epstein victim said Maxwell acted "like a cool older sister and made comments like this is what grownups do” when trying to convince girls to perform various acts.
The agent recounted hearing from an individual that Maxwell encouraged her to wear a schoolgirl outfit while serving Epstein tea, an encounter in which the late financier reached under the woman’s skirt and touched her sexually.
A schoolgirl outfit was later recovered from Epstein’s mansion, the agent said.
You can read the documents here on the DOJ website.
Josh Marcus20 December 2025 22:00Newer1 / 6OlderMore about
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