Trump photo reinstated in Epstein files following backlash
A photo that includes Donald Trump has been restored in the Epstein files after being removed by the US Justice Department.
On Sunday, the deputy attorney general, Todd Blanche, said that it was included in items removed from the website due to concerns raised by victims.
The image in question is of a desk with framed photographs of Epstein meeting a number of people.
Trump is included among photos on Epstein’s desk. Pic: US Justice Department/Anadolu via Getty Images
Pope John Paul II is pictured on the desk, as is a photo of Trump standing with several women.
Blanche has since confirmed that the photo has been reinstated.
He also rejected criticisms that the removal occurred due to the US president’s involvement.
The files included many photos of Bill Clinton. Pic: The US Justice Department / Handout /Anadolu via Getty Images
The Department of Justice wrote: ‘Out of an abundance of caution, the Department of Justice temporarily removed the image for further review.
‘After the review, it was determined there is no evidence that any Epstein victims are depicted in the photograph, and it has been reposted without any alteration or redaction.’
Meanwhile, Blanche told NBC’s Meet the Press that ‘we are not redacting information around President Trump’.
A huge amount of the Epstein files were redacted. Pic: Davidoff Studios/Getty Images
He added: ‘There are dozens of photos of President Trump already released to the public seeing him with Mr Epstein.
‘So the absurdity of us pulling down a photo, a single photo, because President Trump was in it, is laughable.’
On Friday, thousands of documents from cases against Epstein were released.
Thousands of files were released on Friday. Pic: Mandel NGAN / AFP via Getty Images
However, there has been plenty of criticism and anger from the public, along with Epstein’s victims, since the release. An incredible number of the files have been redacted, with multiple pages completely blacked out.
Democratic lawmakers have accused Trump of defying the law ordering the release of all the files.
Jamie Raskin told CNN’s State of the Union: ‘It’s all about covering up things that, for whatever reason, Donald Trump doesn’t want to go public, either about himself (or) other members of his family, friends.’
The Justice Department has claimed that it was protecting Epstein’s victims with all of the redactions.
What they did release mainly focused on photographs of former president Bill Clinton and other famous names, like Mick Jagger and Michael Jackson.
Republican congressman Thomas Massie called the redacted release ‘selective concealment’.
He told CBS’s Face The Nation: ‘They’re flouting the spirit and the letter of the law. It’s very troubling the posture that they’ve taken. And I won’t be satisfied until the survivors are satisfied.’
Comments (0)