US Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche has firmly stated that the Justice Department's recent decision to temporarily pull down over a dozen photographs from the released Jeffrey Epstein documents is unrelated to former President Donald Trump. The action, he explained, was taken in response to concerns raised by victim advocacy groups.
Why Were the Epstein File Photos Removed?
According to Blanche, the photographs, which included un-redacted images of women, were taken down from the DOJ website on Saturday for a brief period. This move followed a request from groups representing victims. The Southern District of New York had specifically flagged one image featuring President Trump for potential further action to protect victims' identities.
In a statement on social media platform X, the Department of Justice elaborated that it acted "out of an abundance of caution," temporarily removing the image for review. After examination, officials determined there was no evidence any Epstein victims were depicted in that particular photograph. Consequently, the image was reposted without any changes or redactions.
Ongoing Review and Political Backlash
Blanche, speaking on NBC News' Meet the Press on Sunday, confirmed that one photo remains under investigation. It shows a tabletop covered with framed pictures of Epstein alongside famous personalities, with printed photos of Trump with women in swimsuits visible inside an open drawer. "We don't have perfect information," Blanche said. "And so when we hear from victims-rights groups about this type of photograph, we pull it down and investigate. The photo will go back up, and the only question is whether there will be redactions."
The partial release of the Epstein files on Friday, which was the deadline set by the Epstein Files Transparency Act, drew sharp criticism from several lawmakers. Democrat Ro Khanna expressed disappointment and urged a full release. Colleagues Dick Durbin and Shri Thanedar accused the DOJ of violating the law and failing on transparency promises. On the Republican side, Thomas Massie labelled the document removal "government lies," while Marjorie Taylor Greene criticised the slow process, calling it "NOT MAGA."
Blanche Denies Any Cover-Up
Pushing back against all allegations of a cover-up, Blanche defended the department's actions. He insisted that delays were necessary to safeguard victims and their privacy. He categorically denied that the DOJ lawyers were focusing on Trump, stating, "He had nothing to do with the Epstein files. He had nothing to do with the horrific crimes that Mr. Epstein committed."
Blanche reiterated that the Justice Department is not intentionally withholding information. "We are not redacting information around President Trump, around any other individual involved with Mr. Epstein, and that narrative, which is not based on fact at all, is completely false," he asserted. The department maintains its commitment to transparency while balancing its duty to protect victims associated with the case.
