The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has restored a controversial photograph to its public database of Jeffrey Epstein case files. The image, which features former President Donald Trump, was temporarily removed over the weekend for a privacy review.
The photo shows an open desk drawer containing a picture of Trump with Epstein, his associate Ghislaine Maxwell, and Melania Trump. It was among approximately 16 items removed from the department’s website on Saturday.
Authorities from the Southern District of New York flagged it for review. They acted “out of an abundance of caution” to protect the identities of potential victims.
The DOJ clarified its actions in a statement on the social media platform X. It confirmed the image was temporarily removed for potential further action to protect victims.
— U.S. Department of Justice (@TheJusticeDept) December 21, 2025
“After the review, it was determined there is no evidence that any Epstein victims are depicted in the photograph,” the department stated. Consequently, the photo was reposted without any alteration or redaction.
The removal drew public criticism and speculation. Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche addressed these concerns. He stressed the removal was unrelated to Trump, calling such suggestions “laughable.”
🇺🇸 The DOJ briefly removed a photo featuring Trump from its Epstein files, then restored it after finding no evidence any victims were depicted.
The image was reviewed and reposted unchanged.
Follow: @europa pic.twitter.com/IkBydUQBaD
— Europa.com (@europa) December 22, 2025Blanche noted the department acted on specific requests from victims and their lawyers to safeguard privacy.
Read: US Justice Department Releases Epstein Files, Spotlighting Bill Clinton Ties
The photo’s restoration follows bipartisan criticism of the Epstein document release process. Democrats have questioned extensive redactions and missing files. Meanwhile, some Republican representatives expressed frustration, arguing the release did not fully meet the requirements mandated by Congress.
