By Trendsetter Tribune 
The Justice Department says a photo of Donald Trump with Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell was temporarily removed from public files to protect possible victims — sparking transparency concerns.
The U.S. Department of Justice confirmed that a photograph showing President Donald Trump alongside Jeffrey Epstein, Melania Trump, and Ghislaine Maxwell was temporarily removed from its public archive of Epstein-related files after being flagged for review.
Officials said the photo was pulled “out of an abundance of caution” to ensure no victims appeared in the image. After review, the DOJ determined there was no risk and restored the photo without any edits.
“There is no evidence that any Epstein victims are depicted in the photograph, and it has been reposted without any alteration or redaction,” the department said.
Transparency Questions After Files Disappeared
The brief disappearance of the image — one of at least 16 files that temporarily vanished — triggered criticism from lawmakers and victim-advocacy groups who questioned whether the department was selectively withholding material released under the Epstein Files Transparency Act.
Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche rejected accusations that the removal had anything to do with Trump’s presence in the photo.
Blanche said concerns came from advocacy groups, adding:
“There are dozens of photos of President Trump already released to the public seeing him with Mr. Epstein… The absurdity of us pulling down a photo because President Trump was in it is laughable.”
Political Fallout and Accusations
Some Democrats on the House Oversight Committee suggested the temporary removal signaled selective disclosure. They reposted the image online and questioned whether Attorney General Pam Bondi was overseeing a cover-up.
The White House firmly pushed back.
Spokesperson Abigail Jackson said the administration has been “the most transparent in history,” citing the release of thousands of pages of documents and Trump’s calls for more investigations.
Meanwhile, Blanche said the DOJ plans to release more Epstein-related records “over the next couple of weeks” as officials continue reviewing and redacting sensitive material.
Possible Congressional Action
Representatives Ro Khanna and Thomas Massie said they are exploring potential actions — including impeachment or contempt proceedings — against Attorney General Pam Bondi, alleging non-compliance with the transparency law.
As the next batch of documents looms, pressure is mounting from both parties for clarity — and for assurances that nothing is being hidden from the public.
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