Washington: A new controversy has erupted in the US after the release of files related to sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein. The Democratic Party has accused the Justice Department (DOJ) under the Trump administration of removing a picture of US President Donald Trump from the released Epstein files. This picture is identified as file number 468, in which Trump is allegedly seen with a woman in revealing clothing. Meanwhile, a news agency reported that at least 16 files disappeared from the Justice Department's webpage after their release. No concrete reason has been given for the removal of the photos.
Democrats Ask Questions
The House Oversight Committee of the Democrats questioned the disappearance of Trump's picture by posting on the social media platform X. The committee wrote, "This picture, File 468, which is of Donald Trump in the Epstein files, has now been removed from the DOJ release." The committee then questioned the US Attorney General, "Attorney General Pam Bondi, is this true? And what is being hidden? We demand transparency for the American people."
Photos Disappeared from Website on Saturday
The missing files were available on Friday but disappeared from the page on Saturday. The file allegedly showed a desk drawer filled with photo albums and documents. Among them was a picture of Trump standing with women. At least one of the women was in a bikini. Behind the picture was another blurry photo, which also included Trump, Melania Trump, and Epstein's close associate Ghislaine Maxwell. The photo is believed to have been taken at Mar-a-Lago in 2000, before Trump and Melania's wedding.
No explanation given for the removal of the photos
The Justice Department did not explain why the files were removed or whether they were intentionally deleted. A department spokesperson did not respond to requests from The Associated Press. However, White House spokesperson Abigail Jackson told The Independent that "the Trump administration is the most transparent in history."
Many photos in the Epstein files were released without dates or context. However, inclusion in the file does not necessarily mean that the person or celebrity in question was involved in any wrongdoing or had any criminal connections. Democrats, meanwhile, accused the DOJ of failing to release all the documents by the legal deadline (30 days after the president's signature) and of heavily redacting the material.
