A long-debated “missing minute” of surveillance footage outside Jeffrey Epstein’s prison cell has surfaced, contradicting former attorney general Pam Bondi’s claim that cameras stopped recording the night he died. The video was among 33,000 pages of records released Tuesday by the House oversight committee as part of its probe into Epstein’s 2019 death.
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Footage Restores Lost Timeline
The minute-long gap, from 11:59 p.m. to midnight on August 10, 2019, fueled conspiracy theories that Epstein was murdered. Bondi had asserted that the Metropolitan Correctional Center’s CCTV system routinely resets, erasing that time span nightly. But newly released footage shows no blackout, only guards patrolling outside Epstein’s cell.
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Previous Confusion and Conspiracy Theories
When Epstein was found dead by apparent suicide at 6:30 a.m. the following day, online speculation surged. Conspiracy theorists seized on the supposed missing video as “proof” of foul play, despite CBS later reporting that the FBI and Justice Department already had the full recording. The fresh release confirms that the “lost” minute never actually disappeared.
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Additional Files Released
Alongside the surveillance clips, lawmakers released hours of other material — bodycam footage, police interviews, and court documents related to Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell, his convicted accomplice. Roughly 97% of the files were already public, though the release included never-before-seen images of Epstein escorted by guards to make a phone call.
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Political Pressure Over Transparency
The release comes as Donald Trump faces renewed scrutiny over his longtime ties to Epstein. Some Republicans have joined Democrats in pressing for full disclosure of Epstein-related files. Congressman Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) has filed a discharge petition with Democrat Ro Khanna to force their release, defying House Speaker Mike Johnson’s call to block the effort.
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Victims Demand Justice
Epstein’s victims, joined by other survivors of sexual abuse, rallied in Washington on Wednesday to demand full transparency and accountability. Many spoke publicly for the first time, underscoring the continuing fight for justice more than six years after Epstein’s death.