Epstein files vanish from US Justice Department website, triggering fresh controversy

Washington (The Uttam Hindu): The sudden disappearance of crucial documents related to sex offender Jeffrey Epstein from the official website of the US Department of Justice (DoJ) has caused a stir. According to reports, at least 16 important files were removed within just 24 hours of being uploaded on the website. The most discussed issue is the disappearance of a photo in which US President Donald Trump, his wife Melania, Jeffrey Epstein and his associate Ghislaine Maxwell were seen together. This incident has once again put the US administration in the dock regarding transparency in the Epstein case.

According to sources, these sensitive documents were made public on Friday, but by Saturday they were out of reach of the public. The missing files included not only the photo with Trump, but also a collage of artwork depicting nude women and several other photographs found in furniture drawers. The Justice Department's silence on this matter has further increased the suspense. The department has not yet clarified whether these files were removed due to a technical glitch or were deliberately deleted from the website. This sudden disappearance of the files has sparked a flurry of speculation on social media.

Democratic members of the US House Oversight Committee have strongly raised this issue. They have sharply criticized the social media platform X, asking what else is being hidden, as the American public demands truth and transparency. This controversy has intensified at a time when thousands of pages of documents related to Epstein were recently released under a new law. However, these documents neither revealed any significant details about his crimes nor revealed how he evaded the law for years. Crucial documents, such as FBI interviews with victims and internal prosecution notes, were also missing from this release. This incomplete disclosure, and the disappearance of the files, has again raised questions about Epstein's controversial plea deal in the 2000s and the role of federal agencies.