The US Justice Department has denied accusations of a political cover-up after restoring a photograph of President Donald Trump to publicly released Jeffrey Epstein-related files, following heavy criticism from lawmakers, victims’ groups and campaigners for transparency.
The move comes after a controversial release of Epstein case documents last Friday, which included heavy redactions, blacked-out pages and censored images, triggering anger across the US political spectrum and renewed public distrust around one of the most notorious criminal cases in recent history.
The backlash also follows earlier revelations surrounding Epstein-linked emails that intensified scrutiny on Trump, keeping the controversy firmly in the public eye.
Although the case is American, its global reach, involving world-famous figures and international victims, has attracted strong interest from the UK public.
Why did the US Justice Department remove, and then restore, the Trump photo?
The photograph was initially removed from a set of group images linked to Jeffrey Epstein, which included at least one picture showing Donald Trump at a social event years before Epstein’s arrest.
On Sunday, the US Justice Department confirmed the image had been reposted without any alteration or redaction, stating that an internal review found no evidence that any Epstein victims were depicted.
Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche, speaking on NBC’s Meet the Press, rejected claims of political interference.
“We are not redacting information around President Trump, absolutely, positively not,” Blanche said.
Blanche added that the original decision to remove the photo was taken due to concerns about the woman pictured, not to protect any political figure.
Are Epstein files being redacted to protect powerful people?
That question is now at the centre of fierce political debate.
Victims of Jeffrey Epstein have voiced anger after discovering that large portions of the newly released records were blacked out, including names, images and entire pages.
The Justice Department insists the redactions are solely to protect victims of sexual abuse, many of whom remain alive and legally protected under US law.
— U.S. Department of Justice (@TheJusticeDept) December 21, 2025
However, critics argue that the level of censorship goes far beyond safeguarding survivors.
Democratic Congressman 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 about other members of his family, friends.”
Republican lawmaker Thomas Massie, long a supporter of full disclosure, echoed similar concerns on CBS’s Face the Nation.
“They’re flouting the spirit and the letter of the law… I won’t be satisfied until the survivors are satisfied.”
What was actually released in the Epstein documents?
The tranche of material released on Friday included:
- Photographs of former US President Bill Clinton
- Images linked to celebrities such as Mick Jagger and Michael Jackson
- Previously unseen photos of Prince Andrew, showing him reclining with several women
- Censored images featuring nude or semi-nude figures
- Documents referencing Ghislaine Maxwell, Epstein’s convicted accomplice
Many of the images had key details obscured, and some documents that campaigners believe exist were not released at all.
The frustration is compounded by earlier legal battles over whether grand jury material should be unsealed, an issue that remains unresolved.
Why does Prince Andrew’s inclusion matter to the UK?
Prince Andrew’s appearance in the files has direct relevance to the UK, where public scrutiny of his past association with Epstein remains intense.
Although Andrew denies all wrongdoing and has never been charged, his links to Epstein led to his withdrawal from public royal duties and a multi-million-pound civil settlement with Virginia Giuffre in 2022.
The re-emergence of Epstein-related material keeps the issue alive in Britain, particularly around elite accountability, transparency and justice for victims.
What law forced the release of the Epstein files?
The document release followed a new US law passed under pressure from Congress, compelling the publication of all Epstein-related files held by federal authorities.
President Trump had initially opposed disclosure, but eventually signed the law after mounting pressure from both Democrats and members of his own Republican Party.
Despite the legal requirement, lawmakers now accuse the administration of selective concealment. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries said, “This initial document release is inadequate.”
Jeffries has demanded a written explanation within 15 days detailing why any material was withheld.
What about Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell?
Jeffrey Epstein died in August 2019 in a New York jail cell while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges. His death was officially ruled a suicide, though it continues to fuel conspiracy theories worldwide.
Ghislaine Maxwell, Epstein’s former partner, is currently serving a 20-year prison sentence after being convicted of recruiting and grooming underage girls for sexual abuse.
She remains the only person convicted in connection with Epstein’s crimes.
