JavaScript insert value into event.target.files

I have JavaScript that invokes the File Open dialogue, and the a handler to process the selected file, and store the filename into a database (as a ‘recent files’ list).

The handler gets the file name from event.target.files[0], opens it, reads the contents.

When retrieving the recent files list from the database, I would like to render the file as href ​link, which when clicked would invoke the same handler as if the file had been selected from the File Open Dialogue.

The handler is as follows:

function readFile(e) {
  var file = e.target.files[0];
  if (!file) return;
  var reader = new FileReader();
  reader.readAsText(file);
.
.
}

How can I insert the filename into e.target.file[0] so I can call the same readFile function as is called when selecting the file from File Open Dialogue?

Currently I have this:

<a href=''
   onclick='e.target.file[0] = file_path; readFile(e);'>
 file-name </a>