Washington, D.C. – December 21, 2025 – Public outrage intensified Saturday after reports emerged that at least 16 files, including one featuring a photograph of President Donald Trump with Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell, mysteriously disappeared from the Justice Department’s online “Epstein Library” less than 24 hours after their initial posting.
The vanishings occurred amid widespread criticism of the DOJ’s partial release of thousands of Epstein-related documents on Friday, mandated by the Epstein Files Transparency Act signed by Trump on November 19. The law required full disclosure of unclassified materials by December 19, with limited redactions only for victim privacy, national security, or ongoing investigations.
Among the missing files was an image of a credenza drawer containing photos, prominently including Trump alongside Epstein, Melania Trump, and Maxwell. Other removed items depicted nude artwork and massage room scenes from Epstein’s properties. The DOJ offered no immediate explanation, though a late Saturday statement noted that “photos and other materials will continue being reviewed and redacted consistent with the law in an abundance of caution.”
Bipartisan lawmakers condemned the developments. Rep. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.), a co-author of the transparency act, called the removals “deeply troubling” and accused the administration of non-compliance. His Republican counterpart, Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.), warned that officials like Attorney General Pam Bondi and Deputy AG Todd Blanche risk future obstruction charges. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer labeled it a potential “cover-up,” vowing investigations.
House Oversight Democrats highlighted the Trump photo’s disappearance on social media: “What else is being covered up?” Victims’ advocates echoed the fury. Marina Lacerda, an Epstein accuser, described the handling as “another slap in the face,” arguing redactions and removals prioritize protecting the powerful over survivors.
The controversy builds on Friday’s release, which featured haunting photos of Epstein with Bill Clinton, Michael Jackson, and others but was marred by heavy blackouts—including an entire 119-page grand jury transcript. No mythical “client list” emerged, and Trump’s mentions remained minimal.
Amid renewed interest sparked by Virginia Giuffre’s posthumous memoir Nobody’s Girl—detailing her terror as Epstein’s “sex slave” before her April suicide—these events fuel suspicions of selective disclosure. As more files trickle out, demands grow for accountability and the unredacted truth about Epstein’s elite network.
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