Several documents released this week by the U.S. Department of Justice related to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein were removed from the department’s public website within roughly a day of being posted, according to multiple reports. At least 16 files that were available on Friday could no longer be accessed by Saturday, and the department has not publicly explained why the materials were taken down. Among the missing items was a photograph that included a former U.S. president alongside Epstein and others.

The documents were part of a large, court-mandated disclosure required under recently enacted federal legislation directing the Justice Department to make unclassified Epstein-related records public by a set deadline. The initial release included tens of thousands of pages of material, such as court filings, investigative records, photographs, and other evidence compiled over several decades.

The missing files were removed without public notice or clarification, raising questions about whether the materials were taken down for further review, redaction, or legal reasons. The Justice Department has not said whether the files will be restored or replaced, and officials have declined to comment on the specific contents of the removed documents.

Many of the remaining records are heavily redacted, with officials citing the need to protect victim identities and sensitive information. The disappearance of files has drawn criticism from lawmakers, survivors of Epstein’s abuse, and advocacy groups, who argue that unexplained removals undermine the transparency goals of the disclosure. The Justice Department has said additional records are expected to be released as its review process continues.

Sources: CNN, AP News, CBS