Following a CBS News investigation into surveillance footage from the night of Jeffrey Epstein’s murder, which opponents claim raises more concerns than it answers, the federal government’s handling of his death is coming under further scrutiny.
Only a small portion of the hallway outside Epstein’s cell at the Metropolitan Correctional Center can be seen in the recently analyzed 11-hour footage that the FBI released earlier this year. Importantly, despite earlier assertions by federal officials, including then-Attorney General William Barr, that no one entered the area in the hours previous to Epstein’s death, the cell entry and stairs leading to Epstein’s tier are still largely hidden.
According to video forensic scientists who spoke to CBS News, the video seems to be edited and doesn’t match up with typical digital records. Among the irregularities noted were:
- A one-minute gap shortly before midnight
- Fluctuating aspect ratios suggesting the video might be a screen capture rather than raw DVR footage
- Unidentified activity, including a mysterious orange figure on the stairs and an unknown person seen after midnight
The surveillance footage, which was originally seen as a crucial piece of evidence in the FBI’s decision to conclude its investigation into Epstein’s death—which was officially declared a suicide—is called into question by these inconsistencies.
Additionally, the video appears to contradict the Inspector General’s report and the testimonies of prison employees. Given what can be seen and not seen on the footage, statements that the location was completely secure now seem ambiguous.
The Justice Department’s conclusions have long been contested by critics. One of the most outspoken has been Jaco Booyens, an anti-human trafficking activist from Texas and the founder of Jaco Booyens Ministries. The victims of human trafficking must receive justice. Booyens wrote, “We cannot and will not remain silent.” Ghislaine Maxwell and X. Epstein were found guilty of trafficking. In other words, they sold people—including children—for ***
Serious infractions of jail protocol are a further source of concern. Although previously placed on suicide watch, Epstein was left unaccompanied and without a cellmate at the time of his death. According to reports, guards Michael Thomas and Tova Noel neglected to perform their mandatory half-hour checks.
The discrepancies in the film, together with unresolved procedural issues, continue to fuel public mistrust regarding one of the most contentious deaths in contemporary American captivity, even if the Department of Justice maintains its finding that Epstein committed himself.
