Justice Department Withheld and Removed Epstein Files Referencing Trump, Report Finds
The Justice Department has withheld certain documents from the public release of Jeffrey Epstein case files, including records that reference allegations involving President Donald Trump, according to an investigation by NPR.
The report found that some files catalogued within official Justice Department and FBI records do not appear in the public online database created under the Epstein Files Transparency Act. Among the missing materials are what appear to be more than 50 pages of FBI interview records and notes connected to a woman who accused Trump of sexual abuse decades ago when she was a minor.
NPR’s review compared serial numbers and document logs across FBI case files, internal emails and discovery materials from the criminal prosecution of Ghislaine Maxwell. The analysis suggests dozens of pages were logged by investigators but have not been published online. The Justice Department declined to answer NPR’s specific questions about the documents or explain why certain materials are not publicly available.
Other files temporarily removed from the database relate to a second woman who testified in Maxwell’s sex trafficking trial. Maxwell is currently serving a 20-year prison sentence and has sought clemency from Trump.
Some of the documents were briefly taken offline and later restored, while others remain unavailable, according to NPR’s comparison of file metadata from late January and mid-February. The department has said that documents may be temporarily removed if flagged by victims or their attorneys for additional review.
The White House rejected the allegations. A spokesperson told NPR that Trump “has been totally exonerated on anything relating to Epstein” and said he has done more than any previous official to support Epstein’s victims. The administration has also pointed to earlier Justice Department statements describing some claims in the files as “untrue and sensationalist.”
In a February letter to Congress first reported by Politico, Attorney General Pam Bondi and Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche wrote that no records were withheld or redacted due to embarrassment, reputational harm or political sensitivity involving public figures.
The newly released materials show that the FBI circulated a list of Epstein-related allegations internally in 2025. Most claims were marked as unverified or not credible. However, one allegation involving Trump was forwarded to the FBI’s Washington Field Office for potential follow-up, according to internal records.
The broader controversy comes as lawmakers from both parties have criticized the administration’s handling of the Epstein file release, accusing the Justice Department of lacking transparency while simultaneously exposing sensitive victim information. The department has said it is working to address concerns and complete additional redactions where necessary.
