The Mystery of EFTA00000468: DOJ quietly scrubs Trump photo as 16 Epstein files vanish

Epstein files controversy: DOJ removes 16 documents, including file 468 with Trump’s photo

Democrats have accused the US Department of Justice (DOJ) of removing a photograph featuring President Donald Trump from the newly released Jeffrey Epstein files, triggering fresh controversy over transparency and compliance with federal disclosure law.

The image, catalogued as file 468, was part of a large tranche of Epstein-related documents made public on Friday under the Epstein Files Transparency Act. The photograph reportedly showed Trump with a woman in revealing clothing and was listed in the DOJ archive under the reference “EFTA00000468.”

By Saturday morning, the file was no longer accessible on the Justice Department’s official website. Observers noted a numerical gap in the archive, with the catalogue jumping from EFTA00000467 to EFTA00000469, suggesting the intervening file had been removed. According to the Associated Press, at least 16 files disappeared from the DOJ webpage without explanation.

Democrats on the House Oversight Committee raised the issue publicly, posting on X:

“This photo, file 468, from the Epstein files that includes Donald Trump has apparently now been removed from the DOJ release.”

This photo, file 468, from the Epstein files that includes Donald Trump has apparently now been removed from the DOJ release.@AGPamBondi is this true? What else is being covered up? We need transparency for the American public. pic.twitter.com/3wYZAl2dse

— Oversight Dems (@OversightDems) December 20, 2025

They also questioned Attorney General Pam Bondi, asking, “@AGPamBondi is this true? What else is being covered up? We need transparency for the American public.”

The Oversight Committee demanded clarity on why file 468 and other documents were missing and pressed the department to explain whether additional material had been withheld.

The photograph in question showed an open desk drawer containing multiple framed and unframed images, including at least two clearly featuring Trump. Other images reportedly showed Trump with young women as well as one with his wife, First Lady Melania Trump. While the image vanished from the DOJ’s site, copies continued to circulate in open-source archives preserved shortly after the initial release.

The controversy has intensified scrutiny of the DOJ’s handling of Epstein-related disclosures, which span more than two decades of federal investigations into allegations of sexual abuse involving young women and underage girls.

Under legislation signed into law last month, Attorney General Bondi was required to make all Epstein-related documents in the department’s possession available for public review by Friday. The DOJ failed to meet that deadline.

Ahead of the release, Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche said only a portion of the documents would be made public initially, citing ongoing redactions to protect victims. He added that more material would be released later. The law granted the DOJ 30 days to review and prepare the files, while the FBI began its own redaction process in March.

Lawmakers from both parties criticised the partial release. Representative Ro Khanna, a Democrat from California, said Congress could consider impeachment hearings if the DOJ does not comply with the law.

“What we need is a clear timeline of when the rest of the documents will be released and an explanation for why they did not release all of them today,” Khanna said.

Republican Representative Thomas Massie of Kentucky, a co-sponsor of the transparency legislation, accused the department of ignoring congressional intent.

“Compare Language of Epstein Files Transparency Act directing DOJ to provide internal communications regarding their decisions Versus DOJ letter to Congress asserting privilege to omit materials related to decisions, because they weren’t specified by law,” Massie wrote on X.

The DOJ denied selectively shielding politicians. In a post on X late Friday, the department said it was not redacting the names of any politicians. Blanche reiterated:

“The only redactions being applied to the documents are those required by law — full stop. Consistent with the statute and applicable laws, we are not redacting the names of individuals or politicians unless they are a victim.”

Blanche, who previously served as Trump’s criminal defence lawyer, also told ABC News there had been “no effort” to redact mentions of the president.

The White House referred all questions regarding the missing photograph to the Justice Department.

While Trump was previously acquainted with Epstein, he has not been accused of wrongdoing and has denied any knowledge of Epstein’s sexual abuse of underage girls and women.

Trump’s name and image appeared sparingly in the documents released on Friday, though House Democrats have recently released additional photographs obtained directly from Epstein’s estate.