Epstein was alone in cell before death, footage coming: Bongino
FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino claimed the agency will soon release surveillance footage showing no one was near Jeffrey Epstein when he died by suicide in a federal jail cell in 2019. In an interview on Fox News, Bongino said the footage captures the entire Metropolitan Correctional Center (MCC) bay and shows Epstein as “the only person in there and the only person coming out.”
Bongino clarified that the video does not show the suicide itself. However, he said it provides a clear view of the surrounding area and confirms that no other individuals entered the area during the critical time frame.
“There’s video clear as day,” he said.
While Bongino said the FBI will soon make a new video public, a 2023 inspector general report from the Department of Justice found that critical surveillance footage from outside Epstein’s cell was not preserved due to administrative failures.
The report found that MCC staff failed to retain video from key periods and concluded that no definitive footage exists of Epstein’s death. While the OIG found no evidence contradicting the ruling of suicide, it cited serious lapses in jail oversight. This includes broken security cameras, staff negligence and inadequate video retention policies.
What do top FBI officials say now?
Bongino and FBI Director Kash Patel have both stated they believe Epstein died by suicide.
“I have seen the whole file. He killed himself,” Bongino said during a joint interview with Patel, recorded inside FBI headquarters.
Patel stated the agency is reviewing investigative material and will release more details as part of a transparency initiative.
Is there forensic evidence suggesting foul play?
FBI officials said there is no forensic evidence indicating another person was involved.
“There’s no DNA, there’s no audio, there’s no fingerprints, there’s no suspects, there’s no accomplices, there’s no tips. There is nothing,” Bongino said.
The agency remains open to receiving new leads, but has not found anything to contradict the suicide determination. Patel confirmed that the FBI is finalizing the public release of the video and related materials, although the process has taken time due to the volume of records.
“We are diligently working on that,” he said.
Why has Epstein’s death drawn conspiracy theories?
Epstein’s connections to powerful figures and the circumstances of his death have fueled years of speculation. Although federal investigators under the first Trump administration ruled it a suicide, Bongino and Patel’s prior public skepticism, before assuming office, helped amplify suspicions.
As recently as 2024, Bongino promoted theories about Epstein using blackmail tapes and suggested there was a cover-up. Since joining the FBI, he has reversed course, insisting “he killed himself” after reviewing the full case file.
What else is the FBI investigating?
Bongino said the FBI is re-examining several Biden-era cases, including the 2021 pipe bombs found at the DNC and RNC, the Dobbs decision leak and the 2023 discovery of cocaine in the White House. He said the bureau received a new lead in one of the cases and is actively investigating it.
Both Patel and Bongino have previously accused the FBI of being “weaponized” against President Donald Trump. Now, in leadership roles, they said they are committed to restoring public trust and bringing greater transparency to high-profile and politically sensitive investigations, starting with the Epstein case.
Ella Rae Greene, Editor In Chief
