Marvin Joseph/The Washington Post/Getty Images via CNN Newsource

By Emily R. Condon

(CNN) — The National Park Service before dawn on Wednesday removed a statue titled “Best Friends Forever” of President Donald Trump and Jeffery Epstein holding hands – only a day after it was erected on the National Mall.

Patrick, an organizer from “The Secret Handshake” group that placed it, who would only provide his first name out of fear of reprisal, said the group’s security guards were present around 5:30 a.m. when the statue was dismantled.

The Department of the Interior, which oversees NPS, confirmed the statue has been removed, saying in a statement that the statue violated its permit.

On Tuesday, Patrick told CNN he expected it to be up for a week. The statue’s permit allowed it to be on the

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