Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche said the DOJ will release Epstein-related documents and photos that mention or depict President Trump, while protecting identified victims. He stressed that inclusion in the files does not imply involvement in Epstein’s crimes. Some items were temporarily removed after victim-advocacy groups raised concerns; those materials are under review and may be reposted with redactions. Lawmakers from both parties have criticized the partial releases and are pressing for continued transparency.
DOJ to Release All Epstein Files Mentioning Trump, Blanche Says — Photos May Be Redacted After Review
Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche told reporters Sunday that the Department of Justice will make public any documents or images in the Jeffrey Epstein files that mention or depict President Donald Trump, while protecting the identities of identified victims and survivors.
On NBC's Meet the Press, host Kristen Welker asked whether the Justice Department could guarantee that every mention or photograph of the president in the Epstein records would be released. Blanche replied that he had given that assurance repeatedly.
“Yes, yes, I’ve said it three, four times now... We’ve said it before, and President Trump has said it repeatedly since before he was elected. I have nothing to hide,” Blanche said.
Blanche emphasized that an appearance in the files does not imply involvement in Epstein’s crimes.
“To the extent that he is, quote, 'in the Epstein files,' it’s not because he had anything to do with the horrific crimes, full stop. But yes, if President Trump is mentioned, if there are photographs of President Trump or anybody else, they will be released—except for any victims or survivors we’ve identified,”he said.
The DOJ has already posted portions of the files: a segment was released Friday and additional material was posted Saturday. Blanche has said the department expects to publish "several hundred thousand" documents and anticipates releasing several hundred thousand more over the coming weeks. He attributed delays to the labor-intensive process of reviewing and redacting names and other information that could identify witnesses and survivors.
However, multiple outlets reported that 16 items, including photos of the president, were temporarily removed from the DOJ website. The department said materials are being reviewed and redacted "consistent with the law in an abundance of caution as we receive additional information." Blanche told reporters that the removals were prompted by victim-advocacy groups raising concerns and that the photo(s) in question are under investigation.
“We don’t have perfect information. When we hear from victims-rights groups about this type of photograph, we pull it down and investigate. We’re still investigating that photo. The photo will go back up, and the only question is whether there will be redactions on the photo,”
Lawmakers from both parties have criticized the partial releases. Representative Thomas Massie (R-Ky.), who worked with Representative Ro Khanna (D-Calif.) to push for broad disclosure, wrote on X that the DOJ release "grossly fails to comply with both the spirit and the letter of the law" he cited. Other critics have urged faster, more complete transparency while balancing survivor privacy and legal requirements.
The DOJ says it will continue producing records as it completes reviews and redactions, and officials expect additional batches of documents to be posted in the coming weeks.
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