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🌊 What We Know About Epstein’s Death
We look at the new files released by the Justice Department and share what else we know
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By Max Frost
Last week, the Justice Department (DoJ) released its final conclusion: Jeffrey Epstein killed himself; he did not keep a list of sex trafficking clients; and he implicated no one in his crimes. In order to pre-empt “conspiracy theories,” the DoJ promised to release the “raw” footage from a camera outside Epstein’s cell.
Except rather than deflate the “Epstein was murdered” crowd, the DoJ set off a firestorm: The released footage was missing a minute, potentially showed a door different from Epstein’s cell, and was altered.
Today, we break down the Epstein story: What we know about the night he died, what the DoJ released last week, and any contradictions between the two.
At 6:30 AM on August 10, 2019, two prison guards in a New York City maximum security prison delivered Jeffrey Epstein breakfast. They found his body hanging by an orange bedsheet, tied to the top bunk in his cell. Neither they nor anyone else ever took a photo of Epstein’s body in the cell.
A month prior, Epstein had been put in jail pending trial for sex trafficking charges. After two weeks, he was found unconscious with marks on his neck and moved to suicide watch. The prison took him off of suicide watch the week before his death.
On August 9, Epstein met with his lawyers, who noted that he was in good spirits. That night, two guards escorted Epstein to his cell at 7:49 PM. He was required to have a cellmate, but the cellmate had been transferred that day. The guards were required to check on Epstein every 30 minutes, but they fell asleep at their desks and didn’t check on him all night. As they admitted in a 2021 plea deal, they fabricated entries to claim they had been doing their rounds.
Epstein was found dead at 6:30 AM the next morning. New York City’s chief medical examiner ruled the death a suicide – a finding later confirmed by the federal government. However, a private investigator hired by Epstein’s family contradicted that finding; no photos were ever taken of Epstein in his cell; and the two security cameras outside the cell malfunctioned.
Trump Administration figures – including Attorney General Pam Bondi, FBI Director Kash Patel, and his deputy, Dan Bongino – promised to unveil the Epstein conspiracy once and for all. All three had promised transparency and accountability against “Deep State” conspiracies.
Anticipation around the release of the “Epstein files” built through February. At the end of that month, around a dozen right-wing influencers emerged from the White House holding large binders labeled, "The Epstein Files: Phase 1" and "The Most Transparent Administration in History."
Bondi promised, "A lot of flight logs, a lot of names, a lot of information," and when asked about a “list of Jeffrey Epstein’s clients,” she replied, “It’s sitting on my desk right now to review.”
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Editor’s Note
A simple question from us today: The government is telling people to drop the Epstein speculation. Why? Let us know your thoughts by replying to this email.
In case you missed our recent reporting, find our last five articles below:
And thanks for all the kind words yesterday about our story on the downwinders in New Mexico.
Carrie wrote:
Thank you for this story. It's the kind of story that needs to be told. It's not about politics but about people who have been used and then forgotten by their government (the miners). Whatever your view on the atomic bomb, those that were so negatively affected are due their compensation. But also, this story was a silver lining for me. As a Republican turned independent, I hardly recognize my old party, but I am so grateful that there is something tangible in this bill that will actually help people. It gives me a little hope that not all is lost in Washington.
Bob from Hixson, TN wrote:
If any group deserves reparations it would seem to be this group. These people were affected - not generations ago. This was caused by a choice, one made without being able to foresee the ramifications, and one not made by those affected. Too costly - by all means, necessary - by all means. A follow up story might be just how safe are these areas today? Thank you for your reporting!
And Steve wrote:
Thank you for another history lesson. Not only the lesson, but bringing this information to the attention of the public. Unfortunately, it provides us with the knowledge that to our government, people are just a commodity to be used and forgotten.
Thank you again for real journalism.
Thank you all for reading. Stay tuned for more tomorrow.
—Max and Max