Just hours after the Justice Department dumped thousands of long-awaited Epstein files online, a shocking vanishing act unfolded: more than a dozen images—including one prominently featuring photographs of President Donald Trump tucked in a drawer alongside Epstein’s personal snapshots—quietly disappeared from the official website without warning.T

On December 19, 2025, the U.S. Department of Justice began releasing thousands of documents and images from Jeffrey Epstein’s investigations, as mandated by the Epstein Files Transparency Act. Among the initial batch was a photograph of a credenza in Epstein’s home, showing an open drawer filled with personal photos—including one prominently featuring President Donald Trump alongside Melania Trump, Epstein, and Ghislaine Maxwell.

By Saturday, December 20, at least 16 files, including this image (file 468), had vanished from the DOJ’s public “Epstein Library” website without explanation. Democrats on the House Oversight Committee quickly highlighted the disappearance, posting screenshots and questioning Attorney General Pam Bondi: “What else is being covered up?”

The removal sparked immediate backlash. Bipartisan critics, including Reps. Ro Khanna (D-CA) and Thomas Massie (R-KY)—who co-sponsored the transparency law—accused the DOJ of non-compliance and potential obstruction. Some Democrats alleged a cover-up to shield Trump, whose past social ties to Epstein have long drawn scrutiny.

Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche addressed the controversy on NBC’s Meet the Press on December 21, insisting the removals “have nothing to do with President Trump.” He explained that victim advocacy groups and the Southern District of New York flagged concerns about potential victim depictions in the photos, prompting temporary pull-downs “out of an abundance of caution.” Most removed images were nude paintings or contained unidentified women.

By Sunday afternoon, the DOJ restored the Trump photo after review confirmed no victims were depicted. A department statement on X reiterated victim-protection priorities.

While no new evidence implicates Trump in Epstein’s crimes—and his mentions remain minimal in the files—the incident fueled conspiracy theories and partisan fury. Critics argue the “slow-drip” release violates the law’s intent for full disclosure by December 19. Blanche promised ongoing rolling releases, vowing no special redactions for Trump.

As Epstein’s elite connections continue surfacing—prominently featuring figures like Bill Clinton—the brief vanishing act underscores tensions between transparency and privacy. For a presidency overseeing the process, it reignites questions about optics and accountability in one of America’s most enduring scandals.