By Peter Aitken
Politics Weekend Editor
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Several files have disappeared from the Department of Justice's (DOJ) online portal where it uploaded some of the files related to the investigations into Jeffrey Epstein—including a photo of President Donald Trump, with House Democrats on the Oversight Committee questioning the move.
The Associated Press reported that 16 files have disappeared as of Saturday afternoon from the original five batches of files uploaded to the DOJ's website for public review as part of the Epstein Files Transparency Act.
In a statement to Newsweek on Saturday, White House spokeswoman Abigail Jackson said: “The Trump Administration is the most transparent in history. By releasing thousands of pages of documents, cooperating with the House Oversight Committee’s subpoena request, and President Trump recently calling for further investigations into Epstein’s Democrat friends, the Trump Administration has done more for the victims than Democrats ever have."
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She continued: "And while President Trump is delivering on his promises, Democrats like Hakeem Jeffries and Stacey Plaskett have yet to explain why they were soliciting money and meetings from Epstein after he was a convicted sex offender. The American people deserve answers."
Newsweek reached out to the DOJ by submission form on Saturday morning for comment and clarification.
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Why It Matters
Representatives Ro Khanna, a California Democrat, and Thomas Massie, a Kentucky Republican, co-sponsored a bill requiring the DOJ to fully release all files related to the federal investigation into disgraced financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
House Speaker Mike Johnson, a Louisiana Republican, refused to bring the bill to the floor for a vote, forcing Khanna and Massie to seek a discharge petition, which would require a floor vote shortly after securing 218 signatures, which occurred once the government shutdown ended in mid-November.
With the near-unanimous passage of the bill, the DOJ was legally required to release all files on December 19. However, the DOJ released only a portion of the files, saying the department needed to finish redacting them to protect the identities of victims or minors, and to ensure that no ongoing investigation is compromised—both exceptions allowed by the law passed by Congress.
What To Know
House Democrats and media outlets on Saturday noticed some of the released Epstein files were no longer accessible on the DOJ website—although the public had time to download the files if they wanted.
Among the now missing files were images of paintings depicting nude women, but most notable was a photo of a drawer that itself contained some photos, including one of Trump alongside Epstein, first lady Melania Trump, and Ghislaine Maxwell.
Democrats on the House Oversight Committee drew attention to the missing photo, posting it on X and asking why file 468—the one in question—had been removed from the DOJ release.
"[AG Pam Bondi] Is this true? What else is being covered up? We need transparency for the American public," OversightDems X account wrote.
The DOJ has not yet provided any explanation or notice regarding the files, particularly whether the disappearance was intentional.
The partial release of the files has only deepened concerns about transparency as the tens of thousands of pages made public on Friday offered little new insight into the crimes or prosecutorial decisions that allowed Epstein to avoid serious charges for years. The release also has thus-far omitted materials such as FBI interviews with victims and internal memos on charging decisions.
Khanna on Friday said that lawmakers were already considering articles of impeachment for Attorney General Pam Bondi due to the failure to release all files by the required deadline.
Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche had warned that the department would only release some of the files as the department would need to redact information about the victims and minors to protect them.
"There’s a lot of eyes looking at these, and we want to make sure that when we do produce the materials we are producing, that we are protecting every single victim," Blanche told Fox & Friends.
What People Are Saying
U.S. Department of Justice wrote on X on Saturday: "Photos and other materials will continue being reviewed and redacted consistent with the law in an abundance of caution as we receive additional information."
Representative Thomas Massie, a Kentucky Republican, wrote on X on Friday: “Attorney General Pam Bondi is withholding specific documents that the law required her to release by today.”
Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene, a Georgia Republican, wrote on X on Friday: "The whole point was NOT to protect the 'politically exposed individuals and government officials.' That’s exactly what MAGA has always wanted, that’s what drain the swamp actually means. It means expose them all, the rich powerful elites who are corrupt and commit crimes, NOT redact their names and protect them."
Representative Summer Lee, a Pennsylvania Democrat, wrote on X on Saturday: "Most transparent admin in history? These redactions are an absolute mockery of the survivors of Epstein’s abuse and the American people. The DOJ is still compelled by our subpoena to release the full, unredacted files to the Oversight Committee. This cover up must end."
This article includes reporting by the Associated Press.
Update 12/20/25, 7:15 p.m. ET: This article has been updated with additional information.
Update 12/20/25, 11:14 p.m. ET: This article has been updated with additional information.
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