Epstein files vanish from US Justice Department website hours after release
Washington: Several documents linked to late financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein disappeared from the US Justice Department’s public website within a day of being uploaded, triggering political reactions and renewed demands for transparency.
At least 16 files that appeared online on Friday were no longer accessible by Saturday. Among the missing material was an image that included a photograph showing US President Donald Trump with Epstein, Melania Trump and Ghislaine Maxwell. The image was part of a larger photograph depicting framed pictures placed on furniture and inside drawers, alongside images of artwork featuring nude women.
The Justice Department has not clarified whether the files were removed intentionally or due to an error. No official explanation has been issued and a department spokesperson did not respond to media queries.
Democrats on the House Oversight Committee drew attention to the missing Trump image in a post on X. They asked what else might have been removed and called for public accountability.
According to an India Today report, the document release, which ran into thousands of pages, included references to several prominent individuals, including former US President Bill Clinton. Notably, Trump’s name appeared rarely in the written records, despite earlier disclosures that had linked him to Epstein socially. Trump has denied any involvement in Epstein’s crimes and has not been accused of wrongdoing.
His absence from much of the newly released material stood out, particularly because his name appeared in Epstein’s private jet flight logs made public by the Justice Department earlier this year.
Several documents which were expected by survivors and lawmakers did not feature in the release. These included FBI interviews with victims and internal Justice Department records explaining why Epstein was not federally prosecuted in the mid-2000s, when he instead secured a plea deal on lesser state charges.
Other figures long associated with Epstein, including Britain’s former Prince Andrew, were also mentioned sparingly, leading to further questions about the scope of scrutiny applied.
The released files did include some new elements, such as a 1996 complaint accusing Epstein of stealing photographs of children and documents outlining how federal prosecutors retreated from pursuing sex trafficking charges. However, much of the material consisted of photographs of Epstein’s properties in New York and the US Virgin Islands, along with scattered images involving celebrities and political figures.
Many of the documents were heavily redacted or provided little context. One file labelled “Grand Jury-NY,” running 119 pages, was entirely blacked out. Prosecutors have acknowledged that millions of pages of records exist from investigations into Epstein and Maxwell, far more than what has been made public so far.
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Cybercrime, drug offences rising in Karnataka; CM Siddaramaiah urges strict police action
Bengaluru (PTI): Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Thursday cautioned that cybercrimes and drug-related offences are on the rise in the state and urged the police to take strong and effective measures to curb them.
He also called on the police to make better use of technology to curb such crimes.
The chief minister was speaking at the ‘Karnataka Police Flag Day’ event, attended by Home Minister G Parameshwara and senior Home Department and police officials.
“In the last three years, there has been a decline in major crimes such as murder, robbery, and theft. I compliment the police for this. However, we cannot ignore that in certain crimes we are above the national average. Cybercrimes and drug and narcotics-related offences are on the higher side, and the conviction rate is also low,” Siddaramaiah said.
Addressing police officers and personnel, he said the Karnataka government intends to make the state drug-free and that all necessary measures should be taken in this direction.
“I have stated on several occasions, and I reiterate that criminal offences cannot occur without the knowledge of the police within their station jurisdiction. This must be clearly understood,” he said.
“If police inspectors work efficiently and honestly within their limits, they can prevent several criminal activities,” he added.
Noting that the Constitution guarantees equality before the law and equal protection of the law, the chief minister said this principle should always be upheld.
“No one can take the law into their own hands, irrespective of how powerful or influential they are,” he said.
He also urged the police to remain alert and work efficiently in areas where they are lagging in preventing crime and maintaining peace and tranquillity.
Emphasising the use of technology in crime prevention, Siddaramaiah said the police have lagged in this area on several occasions.
“By using technology, the police should prevent crimes, especially cybercrimes and drug and narcotics-related offences, as these are destroying our youth, who are our future. This is very important,” he said, adding that two special task forces have been set up to tackle cybercrime and make the state drug-free.
Warning of action against police personnel who fail to prevent crimes, the CM instructed the Home Minister to hold jurisdictional inspectors accountable if necessary preventive measures are not taken despite repeated warnings.
He added that his government is committed to protecting women, children, persons with disabilities, and other vulnerable sections of society, and that the police play a crucial role in ensuring their safety.
Acknowledging that police personnel, unlike those in other departments, do not have fixed working hours and often work during festivals and holidays, he said, “A country or a state with good law and order can progress, as it attracts investment, reduces unemployment, and boosts GDP growth. Therefore, along with development, maintaining harmony is equally important.”
Speaking at the event, Parameshwara said the government has taken initiatives to eradicate the drug network in the state and that the CM has announced his intention to make Karnataka “drug-free.”
“In the last three years, drugs worth thousands of crores of rupees have been seized, and strict action has been taken against many accused involved in the racket,” he said.
He noted that cybercrime is on the rise in the country and added that Karnataka has, for the first time, established a Cyber Command Unit and appointed a Director General-rank officer to lead it. Efforts are underway to curb cybercrime by strengthening the unit.
Referring to the Union Home Minister’s recent statement declaring the country Naxal-free, Parameshwara said, “By establishing an Anti-Naxal Force many years ago, Karnataka became the first Naxal-free state in the country.”
He added that modern challenges are evolving daily and stressed the need for continuous training across all levels of the police force.
Lauding the police for maintaining peace, tranquillity, and law and order in the state, the minister said that, according to the India Justice Report, Karnataka ranks first in providing justice to aggrieved parties in the country.
