John said: "Make sure to check even if the current cardtype is not file or image - it may have been changed."

there is no "current card" when emptying trash.

you mean cards in the trash don't have a cardtype?

I mean you empty all the trash at once, not card by card. perhaps the code will explain it best:

def empty_trash

  Card.where(:trash=>true).delete_all

  User.delete_cardless

  Card::Revision.delete_cardless

  Card::Reference.repair_missing_referees

end

At no point in the process do you examine any card details. We would basically add another line that is essentially "delete cardless files". (And, of course, make that work)