Sixteen Epstein Files Removed as DOJ Faces Transparency Backlash (12/21/25)

The U.S. Department of Justice has come under fire after releasing thousands of pages of documents related to Jeffrey Epstein under the Epstein Files Transparency Act, only to include extensive redactions that critics say undermine the law’s intent. Lawmakers and advocates argue the heavily blacked-out material—some pages entirely obscured and many more with large sections removed—fails to meet the statutory requirement for transparency. Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche defended the redactions, saying they were legally necessary to protect victims’ identities and sensitive information, but opponents counter that the lack of clear explanations for the edits fuels suspicion and diminishes public trust in the process. The Hill noted that even innocuous or puzzling redactions (such as non-substantive content) have drawn ire and raised questions about whether the DOJ is fully complying with the law.

The controversy intensified as some documents initially published on the Justice Department’s website were removed without explanation just days after release, including files that appeared to contain a photograph featuring a former U.S. president alongside Epstein. Critics from both parties, including co-sponsors of the transparency legislation, accused the department of a “bare minimum” rollout that falls short of Congress’s mandate, and threatened further oversight or legal action to enforce compliance. DOJ officials maintain they are continuing to review and release additional materials on a rolling basis, but the dispute highlights ongoing tensions over how much of Epstein’s records should be public and how to balance survivor privacy with demands for accountability.


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16 Epstein files, including photo of Donald Trump, disappear from DOJ website: Report

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