The Justice Department temporarily removed multiple photographs from the Jeffrey Epstein files after victim advocacy groups raised concerns; Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche said images will be restored after review and defended the extended review as necessary to protect victims. Lawmakers pressed for accountability — with some threatening contempt proceedings and others urging legislative tools instead of impeachment. Separately, the U.S. Coast Guard pursued the sanctioned vessel Bella 1 off Venezuela, linked to sanctions evasion and ties to a Houthi financial network. The roundup also covers health-care premium risks, California legislation, TPS for South Sudanese nationals, and storm mitigation funding disputes in Washington state.
DOJ Defends Pulling Epstein Photos as Lawmakers Demand Answers; Coast Guard Chases Sanctioned Vessel Off Venezuela — Weekend Rundown
Alex Lomong. (Courtesy Alex Lomong)
Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche told NBC News' Meet the Press that the Justice Department temporarily removed more than a dozen photographs from the publicly released Jeffrey Epstein files after victim advocacy groups raised concerns. Blanche insisted the decision "had nothing to do with President Trump" and said the images will be restored after a review to determine whether further redactions are necessary.
Blanche said the removed images included unredacted pictures of women and that some files will be reposted once the department verifies whether redactions are required. One released item showed a tabletop covered with framed photographs of Epstein, and an open drawer containing printed pictures of then-President Trump with women in bathing suits.
"We don't have perfect information," Blanche told moderator Kristen Welker. "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."
Blanche also defended the department's decision to continue reviewing materials beyond the Friday deadline established by the Epstein Files Transparency Act, saying the extended review is "simply to protect victims." That rationale did not satisfy some lawmakers.
Political Pushback
Representatives Ro Khanna (D-Calif.) and Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) said they are pursuing congressional measures to hold Justice Department officials accountable for not releasing all eligible materials by the statutory deadline. Massie, appearing on CBS' Face the Nation, suggested congressional contempt proceedings as a path to compel the release of the remaining files.
A vehicle drives past a flooded neighborhood Tuesday, in Snohomish, Wash. (Brandon Bell / Getty Images)
Senator Tim Kaine (D-Va.) called talk of impeachment "premature," and urged lawmakers to use legislative levers — such as appropriations and oversight tools — to press the department if it is "dragging its feet." Kaine said he preferred using those mechanisms over immediate calls for contempt or impeachment.
Coast Guard Pursues Sanctioned Vessel Off Venezuela
In a separate development, two U.S. officials told NBC News the U.S. Coast Guard was in "active pursuit" of a sanctioned vessel in international waters off Venezuela. The ship, identified as Bella 1, was added to the U.S. sanctions list in June 2024 and is reportedly linked to an effort to evade sanctions — described by officials as part of a "dark fleet" operating under a false flag.
Officials said Bella 1 was sanctioned under counterterrorism authorities for its alleged role in the network associated with Houthi financial facilitator Sa'id al-Jamal. The Defense Department also interdicted another tanker over the weekend that the White House said was carrying sanctioned oil.
Other Notable Weekend Items
- Health-Care Costs: As Congress left Washington without a health-care agreement, an estimated 22 million people face the prospect of higher insurance premiums.
- California Legislation: Gov. Gavin Newsom signed nearly 800 bills this year — a legislative package that aides say could shape a future national platform.
- New York Politics: Former President Trump endorsed Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman in the New York governor's race after Rep. Elise Stefanik withdrew from the GOP primary.
- Iran Concern: Israeli officials, alarmed at Iran's ballistic missile developments, are preparing for a briefing from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to President Trump on possible military options.
- Temporary Protected Status: Alex Lomong, a 28-year-old Virginia resident and former Division I runner, is among many South Sudanese nationals who could be affected if the administration ends TPS for South Sudan on Jan. 5 — a move critics say could force people back to a country facing famine and instability.
- Flood Mitigation Funding: Washington state officials warned that recent storms underscore the need for pre-disaster mitigation projects. Officials said the administration sought to cancel roughly $182 million in FEMA mitigation funding and that $31 million in prevention grants remained pending approval.
- Cultural and Sports Items: Actor James Ransone, known for work including The Wire, died at 46 in an apparent suicide; thousands attended a memorial after the Bondi Beach mass shooting; Bowen Yang closed his run on Saturday Night Live alongside Ariana Grande and Cher; Miami and Alabama advanced in the College Football Playoffs, while Oregon and Ole Miss posted decisive wins; influencer Jaclyn Hill has seen falling viewership, which some analysts interpret as audience fatigue with luxury-focused content.
This roundup collects the weekend's leading developments across justice, foreign policy, domestic politics and culture.
