Trump Official Makes Epstein Deleted-Photo Scandal Even Worse: ‘We Only Took Down Trump’s Picture Because We Didn’t Want to Expose the Faces of Victims’

Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche’s attempt to downplay the mysterious removal and subsequent restoration of a Jeffrey Epstein-related photograph featuring President Donald Trump has backfired dramatically, with critics accusing him of inadvertently placing Trump in compromising proximity to Epstein victims.

Blanche’s Sunday appearance on NBC’s Meet the Press was intended to project transparency amid the DOJ’s ongoing Epstein file releases, but his explanation only amplified suspicions of selective handling and handed opponents fresh ammunition.

The controversy centers on a photo from Friday’s release showing Trump alongside individuals connected to Epstein. Hours later, the image vanished from the DOJ’s public webpage without explanation, triggering immediate backlash. By Sunday, it was restored, but the episode had already fueled accusations of tampering.

Blanche, Trump’s former personal lawyer now serving as a top Justice Department official, sought to frame the incident as routine victim protection. Instead, his wording left hosts and commentators stunned, suggesting the photo was removed specifically because it depicted Trump in a context involving Epstein victims.

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Blanche’s On-Air Explanation

On Meet the Press, Blanche insisted the process was “the most transparent in U.S. history” while defending the limited releases as necessary to safeguard victims. When pressed on the Trump photo’s removal, he explained it was taken down “because we didn’t want to expose the faces of victims.”

The phrasing immediately raised eyebrows. MSNBC’s Morning Joe hosts Joe Scarborough and Mika Brzezinski dissected the interview Monday, with Scarborough highlighting the implication.

“I wrote it down here because this is going to come back,” Scarborough said. “And this is a real laugher: ‘This is the most transparent process in U.S. history,’ he says, when of course, it’s the least transparent.”

He then zeroed in on Blanche’s victim protection rationale: “He seemed to suggest that Donald Trump was in a picture of victims, of Epstein victims, when he said, we only took down Donald Trump’s picture because we didn’t want to expose the faces of victims.”

Brzezinski interjected: “Oh my gosh.”

Scarborough repeated the claim for emphasis: “Let’s chew on that again. He said… why is everybody making such a big deal? We were trying to protect victims of Jeffrey Epstein when we took Donald Trump’s picture off the files.”

The hosts noted the absence of any evidence placing Trump with Epstein victims, suggesting Blanche’s wording was a catastrophic misstep. “If I were Donald Trump, I’d be very angry that Todd Blanche accused him of being with Epstein victims when there’s no evidence of that whatsoever,” Scarborough added.

The photo was part of thousands of documents released under the Epstein Files Transparency Act, signed by Trump in November mandating full disclosure by December 19. The DOJ missed the deadline, posting partial batches amid criticism for redactions and delays.

Other materials include images of Epstein with high-profile figures like Bill Clinton, Bill Gates, Michael Jackson, and Kevin Spacey—none accused of wrongdoing—as well as photos appearing to show Epstein with children. Ghislaine Maxwell appears in several.

The Trump photo’s brief removal—followed by restoration has fueled accusations of political interference. Democrats, led by Senate Leader Chuck Schumer, have threatened legal action, while some House members call for Attorney General Pam Bondi’s impeachment.

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What We Know About Blanche

Blanche, a former Trump defense attorney in the New York hush-money case, was confirmed as Deputy AG earlier this year. His appearance was meant to reassure the public on the DOJ’s process, but critics argue it achieved the opposite—implying Trump required special protection or was linked to victim-related content.

The administration has dismissed broader file controversies as “sensationalist” and “false,” insisting claims would have been “weaponized already” if credible.

Scarborough’s prediction that the soundbite “is going to come back” reflects its potential as Democratic midterm ammunition, portraying the DOJ as prioritizing Trump’s image over transparency.

The incident fits a pattern of irregularities in the releases: missed deadlines, temporary removals, and heavy redactions. Legal experts question whether victim protection justifies the inconsistencies, especially when files are restored without explanation.

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For an administration emphasizing law and order, the episode shows the challenges of managing a scandal tied to one of its central figures. Whether Blanche’s comments haunt the DOJ—or become footnote in the larger transparency battle—will depend on future releases and congressional scrutiny. For now, they have only deepened the controversy they were meant to resolve.