At least 16 Epstein Files have been mysteriously deleted – what did they show?
At least 16 images have mysteriously vanished from Epstein Files prompting questions of a cover up.
One of them a photograph showing President Donald Trump was deleted — less than a day after they were posted, with no explanation from the government.
Other missing files included images of paintings depicting nude women, and one showing a series of photographs along a credenza and in drawers.
In that image, inside a drawer among other photos, was a photograph of Trump, alongside Epstein, Melania Trump and Epstein’s longtime associate Ghislaine Maxwell.
Democrats on the House Oversight Committee pointed to the missing image featuring a Trump photo in a post on X, writing: ‘What else is being covered up? We need transparency for the American public.’
After the public outcry, the image was restored to the collection of thousands without explanation.
The Justice Department didn’t answer questions about why the files disappeared but said in a post on X that ‘photos and other materials will continue being reviewed and redacted consistent with the law in an abundance of caution as we receive additional information.’
Online, the unexplained missing files fueled speculation about what was taken down and why the public was not notified, compounding long-standing intrigue about Epstein and the powerful figures who surrounded him.
Who is pictured in the ‘Epstein files’?
Instead, former US president Bill Clinton featured prominently. Images of showed him in a hot tub alongside an anonymous woman, swimming in a pool with Ghislaine Maxwell and posing with Epstein, and other anonymous women.
The former president has never been accused of wrongdoing by survivors of Epstein’s abuse, and has denied knowledge of his sex offending.
His spokesperson said in 2019 the former president had no knowledge of the ‘terrible crimes’ Epstein admitted.
The files also include photos of Epstein with Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, billionaire Richard Branson and the late CBS News anchor Walter Cronkite.
The former member of the Royal Family is seen lying over several people with an awkward smile as Maxwell watches on. But has has always denied any accusations of wrongdoing.
Trump also appears in photos in the files alongside multiple anonymous women, while another picture of personal photos on the financier’s desk includes a picture of the now-president.
Otherwise, the politician does not appear to be significantly mentioned in the first batch of files.
Meanwhile, Epstein is shown dressed in tracksuit pants, and looking down at four young women or girls sitting on their knees with their hands in a prayer.
Many of the photographs have been released without context, so it is not confirmed where they were taken and when.
Other famous figures pictured in the files include Michael Jackson and Mick Jagger.
None of the images in the tranche show or imply any wrongdoing on the part of anyone shown in them.