FBI destroyed master Epstein jail footage, reconstructed copy had 62-second gap

The Federal Bureau of Investigation destroyed the master copy of surveillance footage documenting the night Jeffrey Epstein died in federal custody, according to newly disclosed records cited by CBS News. The destruction necessitated a reconstruction effort that produced a publicly released version with a 62-second gap—a discrepancy that drew scrutiny from observers and members of Congress.

Authorized Destruction of Evidence

Records indicate that in June 2024, an FBI agent received authorization to destroy evidence item 1B60, described as the master recording of archived video from the Metropolitan Correctional Center in Manhattan. The footage had been stored at a Bronx warehouse. A February 2025 document noted the case was closed and that a prosecutor concurred with standard evidence disposition procedures. FBI policy requires investigative files to remain open if evidence is not disposed.

Reconstruction and the Missing Minute

As public pressure mounted for transparency regarding Epstein-related records in mid-2025, the Justice Department sought to reconstruct the destroyed footage. An FBI digital forensics specialist located another copy stored on the jail's NiceVision digital video recorder system. On May 21, 2025, an agent screen-captured the footage, producing two segments—one ending at 11:58:58 p.m. and another beginning at midnight—creating a 62-second gap. Then-Attorney General Pam Bondi attributed the gap to a nightly system reset, though the reviewing FBI specialist stated this theory could not be tested. Security experts told CBS such recurring gaps would be atypical.

Congressional Release and Ongoing Scrutiny

Congress released the complete footage, including the previously omitted minute, in September 2025. The recording showed no unusual activity during that period. Last month, the Justice Department released over 3 million pages, 2,000 videos and 180,000 images under the Epstein Files Transparency Act, signed into law in November. Victims and survivors have criticized the release as heavily redacted, asserting key records remain concealed. Epstein was found dead in his cell in August 2019 while awaiting trial on federal sex trafficking charges.