The US Justice Department has reversed a controversial decision, restoring a photograph featuring former President Donald Trump to the publicly released Jeffrey Epstein files. The move follows a swift backlash after the image was removed without explanation on Saturday, 20 December 2025.
Blanche Denies Political Motive in Photo Removal
Deputy US Attorney General Todd Blanche addressed the issue directly on Sunday, 21 December, stating the removal had "nothing to do" with the president. He explained that a total of 16 images were taken down temporarily at the request of victim advocacy groups, who raised concerns about potential identification of survivors.
"We don't have perfect information," Blanche told NBC News' Meet the Press. "And so when we hear from victims-rights groups about this type of photograph, we pull it down and investigate." He maintained that an ongoing review would determine if any redactions were necessary before the images could be republished.
Victims' Rights Advocate Condemns 'Failed' System
The episode has intensified scrutiny over the handling of the sensitive Epstein document dump. Prominent victims' rights attorney Gloria Allred criticised the process, stating the "system has failed the survivors". She told CNN that some files appeared "under-redacted", with survivors' names and potentially compromising images being published in error.
"I saw a number of survivors' names which should never have been published, because the whole point is to protect the survivors," Allred said. She expressed particular concern about unredacted images that may depict women unclothed, calling the situation "completely unacceptable".
Congressional Pressure and Historical Failures Revealed
The controversy adds to existing tensions between the Justice Department and Congress. Lawmakers had already threatened legal action after the DoJ failed to comply with a legal requirement to disclose all Epstein-related documents by Friday, 19 December.
Among the released files, a newly revealed FBI report from 1996 highlights earlier systemic failures. Artist Maria Farmer reported Epstein to authorities, alleging he had "stolen" nude images of her siblings. Her sister, Annie Farmer, was later abused by Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell at age 16. The document underscores how authorities' inaction at the time had dire consequences for many teenage girls.
The Justice Department's final statement on Sunday confirmed the restored image featuring Trump posed no risk of public exposure to Epstein's victims, leading to its reinstatement.
