CBS News has released a detailed review of surveillance footage from Jeffrey Epstein’s jail tier the night he died in August 2019, revealing inconsistencies between what the government claimed the video shows and what appears on screen.
The footage, which runs nearly 11 hours and lacks audio, has raised concerns about the accuracy of official statements from the Department of Justice and FBI.
Officials previously stated the camera system would have shown any individual entering or leaving Epstein’s housing area.
However, CBS’s analysis found that key stairwells and entrances to Epstein’s cell were largely out of frame.
At approximately 10:40 pm, a blurry orange shape is seen moving toward the unit. While the Justice Department described it as an officer delivering linens, forensic experts, including a retired NYPD investigator, noted it more closely resembles a person wearing an orange jumpsuit, potentially an inmate.
Technical evaluation of the footage suggests the video was not a direct download from the jail's system. Analysts found indications of a screen recording, with visible mouse cursors and inconsistencies in aspect ratios.
Metadata also showed the video may be a composite of two separate clips. While earlier reports mentioned a "missing minute" in the footage around midnight, CBS found that government sources had access to a continuous version of the video, adding further confusion about why a gap appeared in the version previously released to the public.
The video also shows a third individual entering the housing unit around 4 am, someone not logged in government access records.
This detail directly contradicts earlier statements suggesting that access would have required a physical key and a clear entry record.
Additionally, the two guards on duty failed to conduct the required 30-minute checks, despite Epstein being on suicide watch just weeks prior.
Although Epstein’s death has been officially ruled a suicide, the CBS investigation highlights several inconsistencies that remain unresolved.
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