Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche has spoken out about the sudden removal of a photograph of former President Donald Trump from the recently released Epstein files.
The image, which had shown Trump alongside a group of women and in another shot with Melania, Jeffrey Epstein, and Ghislaine Maxwell, disappeared shortly after its public release, sparking widespread speculation.
Many assumed the move was intended to shield Trump from embarrassment, but Blanche was quick to dismiss that idea.
Speaking to NBC’s Kristen Welker on Meet the Press, he said: “Absolutely, positively not. It has nothing to do with President Trump.
There are already dozens of photos of him with Mr. Epstein publicly available.
He’s acknowledged socializing with Epstein in the ’90s and early 2000s.
Pulling down a single photo because of the President? That’s laughable.”
Court Orders Prompt Photo Removal
Blanche explained the real reason behind the disappearance of the photograph: compliance with a judge’s directive in New York.
He said the Department of Justice is required to listen to concerns from victims or victims’ rights groups before publishing certain material.
“When we hear concerns—whether it’s photos of women we don’t know to be victims or lack full information—we take them down and investigate,” Blanche said.
He added that the DOJ would redact faces or other identifying details if necessary before reposting the images.
Clarifying the Role of Victims’ Rights
Welker pressed Blanche on whether the removal suggested that any of the women pictured were victims of Epstein.
Blanche clarified, stressing that the DOJ does not make assumptions without verification.
“Not at all. If we knew a photo contained a survivor, we would have redacted it before publishing.
But we don’t always have perfect information.
When concerns arise, we investigate.
That photo will go back up once it’s cleared,” he explained.
Assurance on Transparency
The questioning continued as Welker asked if all mentions and photos of Trump in the Epstein files would eventually be made public.
Blanche affirmed repeatedly that they would be, insisting that transparency is the priority.
“Yes, absolutely. President Trump has stated multiple times that he has nothing to hide, and that remains true.
Any photos in the files do not imply involvement in Epstein’s crimes.
Full stop,” Blanche emphasized.
Investigation Continues
As the Department of Justice reviews the files, it remains clear that careful scrutiny of all materials is ongoing, balancing transparency with the protection of potential victims.
For now, the missing photo has stirred discussion, but authorities stress it is part of a standard review process and will likely be restored once the investigation concludes.
Share on Facebook «||» Share on Twitter «||» Share on Reddit «||» Share on LinkedIn