The Justice Department has restored multiple photographs of President Donald Trump to its public database of files related to Jeffrey Epstein, after their brief removal triggered questions about transparency and record handling.
The images, which show Trump and Epstein together at social events years before Epstein’s criminal cases, were returned to the Justice Department’s online archive Saturday. Officials said the photos were removed earlier this week during a routine database review and reappeared once the error was identified.
A Justice Department spokesperson said the removal was unintentional.
“The photographs were temporarily taken offline due to a processing error during a system update,” the spokesperson said. “They have been fully restored, and no records were altered or withheld.”
The images have circulated publicly for years and do not allege wrongdoing by Trump, who has previously said he severed ties with Epstein long before Epstein’s legal troubles became public.
Still, the brief disappearance drew criticism from transparency advocates, particularly because the files involve a sitting president.
“When records involve the president, even minor administrative actions carry significant public consequences,” said a former Justice Department official.
The department said no other Epstein-related materials were removed and emphasized that the database remains publicly accessible.
What to Watch
Lawmakers may seek additional oversight of the Justice Department’s records review process, while advocates expect increased scrutiny of future Epstein-related releases.
