An explosive NPR investigation published Tuesday reveals that the Department of Justice has withheld and removed Epstein files related to allegations against Donald Trump, including material that mentions accusations he sexually abused a minor — even as the Justice Department insists it has complied with transparency laws.
The investigation, based on a review of document metadata and FBI case logs from the massive trove of files released under the Epstein Files Transparency Act, found that dozens of pages tied to Trump‑related interviews and notes are missing from the public database, despite a law mandating their release. Some of these missing documents include more than 50 pages of FBI interviews and notes involving a woman who accused Trump decades ago when she was a minor, according to NPR.
NPR’s review compared multiple sets of unique serial numbers appearing before and after gaps in the Epstein files database, as well as discovery logs and FBI records. Those comparisons showed pages catalogued by the Justice Department that have not been shared publicly, raising questions about why they weren’t published alongside the rest of the 3.5 million pages released earlier this year.
The missing materials are tied to allegations that stem from interviews conducted by the FBI as part of the criminal investigation into Epstein’s and Ghislaine Maxwell’s sex trafficking network, now enshrined in the public database. In at least one case, FBI records indicate Trump’s name appeared in files related to a list of high‑profile accusations, though those specific pages aren’t available to the public.
In response to queries from NPR about the missing files, the Justice Department repeatedly declined to comment on the records themselves, but spokeswoman Natalie Baldassarre argued that any unpublished documents are withheld because they are privileged, duplicates, or tied to ongoing investigations — a defense the department has used in the face of mounting scrutiny.
The White House also weighed in, with spokeswoman Abigail Jackson insisting that Trump “has done more for Epstein’s victims than anyone before him” — pointing to the release of thousands of documents, cooperation with congressional subpoenas, and Trump’s signing of the Epstein Files Transparency Act as evidence of compliance and transparency.
But critics from both parties have criticized the Trump administration’s handling of the file release, accusing the DOJ of operating without transparency and violating both the spirit and requirements of the law that mandated their publication. Lawmakers have continued to call out disproportionate redactions, unexplained omissions, and the appearance that Trump‑linked records were treated differently than other material.
The NPR findings come amid ongoing political and legal battles over the release of Epstein‑related documents and whether all material pertaining to enablers and associates of Epstein — including allegations involving prominent figures — has been fully disclosed. Advocates, victims’ representatives, and some lawmakers argue that much of the relevant material remains concealed, even as the public database continues to grow.
Read some of the documents below:
