A viral video allegedly showing “pedophile billionaire” Jeffrey Epstein attempting suicide in his cell also appeared in a series of documents released by the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ). But what is the truth?
Recently, the X account “Johnny Midnight” shared a 12-second video with the caption: “BREAKING NEWS: Video posted on the DOJ website appears to show Jeffrey Epstein attempting suicide in his cell, with the timestamp on the video matching the night he was found dead.”
Similar posts quickly spread on X and other platforms. The tabloid TMZ also shared a still image from the video along with a similar claim.
According to AFP’s investigation on December 29, the video circulating online appeared in documents released by the DOJ on December 19 related to the case of Epstein, who committed suicide in 2019 while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges.
Although included in Epstein’s file, this video is not the original.
A reverse image search led AFP to a copy of a similar video, posted on YouTube in October 2020 with a note stating that the video was created using 3D graphics software and edited with a different tool.
Meanwhile, the video in the DOJ documents is a copy of an email sent to investigators in 2021. According to the related documents, the video was sent from an internet user who claimed to have “exposed pedophiles in the government since 1987.”
This user claimed to have accidentally obtained a video (leaked from an anonymous source) allegedly showing Epstein attempting suicide. The user asked investigators if the video was authentic.
AFP contacted the video sender, who identified himself as Unis Ali. Ali acknowledged receiving the video from a hacker and sent it to federal investigators for verification, but received no response.
Epstein’s death has fueled numerous conspiracy theories, including the theory that he was murdered to prevent him from reporting high-ranking officials.
In a 2023 report, the DOJ stated that footage of Epstein’s detention area could only be obtained from a security camera in the prison due to a technical malfunction, and that this camera did not capture the door of Epstein’s cell.
The report on Epstein’s death also concluded that the injuries on Epstein’s body were consistent with suicide by hanging rather than murder by strangulation.
The report also included photos of the interior of Epstein’s cell, showing many details not present in the fake video that was circulating.
