Newly released documents question official timeline of Epstein’s final hours before death

Newly released U.S. Department of Justice documents have raised fresh questions about the timeline surrounding convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein’s death, with surveillance review logs suggesting possible movement near his jail tier the night before his body was found. According to records disclosed as part of a broader release of Epstein-related files, investigators observed a blurry, orange-colored figure moving toward Epstein’s isolated L Tier at around 10:39 p.m. on August 9, 2019—hours before he was discovered dead in his cell.

Conflicting Interpretations of the Footage

An FBI memorandum noted that “a flash of orange looks to be going up the L Tier stairs—could possibly be an inmate escorted up to that Tier.” Assessments varied among agencies: the FBI log described it as “possibly an inmate,” while the Justice Department’s Office of the Inspector General suggested it could have been an unidentified corrections officer or someone carrying inmate linen. Official reviews had previously asserted no one entered Epstein’s housing tier that night, a claim echoed by then-deputy FBI director Dan Bongino, who stated in a media interview, “There’s video clear as day, he's the only person in there and the only person coming out.”

Conditions and Lapses in Supervision

The documents also detail lapses in monitoring within the Special Housing Unit where Epstein was held. Officers Tova Noel and Ghitto Bonhomme acknowledged failing to complete required inmate counts and 30-minute wellness checks; Noel reported that Bonhomme slept during part of the evening. Both officers were later charged with falsifying records, though prosecutors dropped the case in exchange for cooperation.

Unresolved Details Surrounding the Death

Epstein’s body was discovered shortly after 6:30 a.m. on August 10, 2019, and ruled a suicide, though no precise time of death was established. Officer Michael Thomas stated he found Epstein hanging and “ripped” him down but could not recall removing the ligature, which was never definitively identified. The New York City Medical Examiner’s Office concluded the surveillance footage was too unclear to identify individuals.

The newly disclosed records, reported in part by CBS News, have renewed scrutiny of the investigative conclusions and the sequence of events in Epstein’s final hours.