At least 16 files related to the Jeffrey Epstein case have disappeared from the U.S. Justice Department's public website - just hours after they were made public. Associated Press News pointed this out.
The missing documents, which were still available on Friday as the department made them public, included a photo of former President Donald Trump in the company of Epstein, his partner Ghislaine Maxwell and Melania Trump.
The State Department has not yet provided any explanation for the removal of the documents. On Saturday, it merely declared that it "continues to review and redact the materials in accordance with the law."
The disappearance of the files has sparked speculation about possible information withholding and renewed concerns about Epstein's ties to influential politicians, businessmen and public figures. Democrats have turned their attention to the disappearance of the photo with Trump and called for greater transparency. "What else is being covered up? The American public deserves the truth," they noted.
Other material released included sensitive photographs, copies of identification cards of women from various countries (including the Czech Republic) and evidence pointing to human trafficking. On Thursday, the Democrats also published some of the data.
(max)