(The Hill) – The Department of Justice (DOJ) has concluded that Jeffrey Epstein killed himself and did not keep a client list, the department determined in a memo released Monday alongside the FBI.
The conclusion is in line with numerous prior evaluations after Epstein was found dead in his prison cell.
Nonetheless, the conclusion comes after President Trump has tapped leaders for the FBI — including its deputy director, Dan Bongino — who have promoted conspiracy theories about his death.
“After a thorough investigation, FBI investigators concluded that Jeffrey Epstein committed suicide in his cell at the Metropolitan Correctional Center in New York City on August 10, 2019. This conclusion is consistent with previous findings,” the memo states.
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The FBI said it enhanced footage of the area where Epstein was housed and saw no one enter or leave the cell block.
“The conclusion that Epstein died by suicide is further supported by video footage from the common area of the Special Housing Unit (SHU) where Epstein was housed at the time of his death,” it states.
“As DOJ’s Inspector General explained in 2023, anyone entering or attempting to enter the tier where Epstein’s cell was located from the SHU common area would have been captured by this footage. The FBI’s independent review of this footage confirmed that from the time Epstein was locked in his cell at around 10:40 pm on August 9, 2019, until around 6:30 am the next morning, nobody entered any of the tiers in the SHU.”
The memo also addressed accusations that Epstein, the financier who was facing sex trafficking charges, kept a client list he could use for blackmail.
Amid a feud with Trump, Elon Musk said the president was on that list. Trump has denied having a close relationship with Epstein.
“This systematic review revealed no incriminating ‘client list.’ There was also no credible evidence found that Epstein blackmailed prominent individuals as part of his actions. We did not uncover evidence that could predicate an investigation against uncharged third parties,” the memo states.
FBI Director Kash Patel had previously called for releasing a list of Epstein’s associates.
The memo otherwise said it does not plan to release further information from the files so as to not release personal details about those affected by Epstein’s actions.
Bongino while on Fox News last month said after reviewing the files he did not believe Epstein was killed.
“He killed himself,” Bongino said. “I’ve seen the whole file.”
That’s a different tune than Bongino struck in 2023.
“Listen, that Jeffrey Epstein story is a big deal, please do not let that story go. Keep your eye on this,” he said at the time.
The release of the memo is the latest effort by Trump officials to address a case long of interest to many in MAGA circles.
Attorney General Pam Bondi and White House officials earlier this year invited interested parties to review a binder full of records on the matter.
But the move backfired, sparking criticism for revealing no new information about the case.
The latest memo is also unlikely to satisfy MAGA allies focused on Epstein’s death.
Conservative commentator Bennie Johnson complained the footage did not show all the necessary details.
“The recently released Epstein security footage is missing a full minute,” he wrote on X.
—Updated at 2:24 p.m. EDT
