DOJ Admits to Removing Nearly 48,000 Epstein Files From Public Database

Files Disappear From DOJ Website

The Department of Justice has confirmed removing 47,635 files from its publicly available database of Jeffrey Epstein case files. Links to the offline files now return a "page not found" error on the department's website.

What Was Removed

Among the removed files are documents containing various claims against President Donald Trump, FBI interview summaries, and materials related to ongoing investigations. CBS News reported that the removals span multiple categories of documents that had been published as part of the Epstein Files Transparency Act compliance.

DOJ's Explanation

DOJ spokesperson Natalie Baldassarre stated they have "not deleted any files from the library" and that the files will be available after "redactions are made." Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche said the withheld files were removed to protect survivors and avoid interference with ongoing investigations.

Survivor Privacy Concerns

The DOJ has said that some removals were made in response to widespread criticism from survivors and their attorneys that the files contained nearly 100 survivors' personal information and photos. The department has "scrambled" to remove documents containing unredacted victim information.

Congressional Response

The House Oversight Committee has approved a motion to subpoena Attorney General Pam Bondi to be questioned about the DOJ's handling of its investigations and documents it is required by law to release.

Current Status

More than 1,000 new pages were subsequently published to the database, including what appears to be the complete case file from the Epstein-Maxwell investigation initiated in 2006. The DOJ has said many offline files will be reuploaded, but it remains unclear if all materials will be restored.