Jeffrey Epstein had a distinctive trait that hinted at his manipulation of influential politicians and celebrities within his circle.

A two-hour interview with Epstein, recorded by Steve Bannon before Epstein’s death in 2019, has been made public as part of the Department of Justice’s Epstein Files.

This interview reveals Epstein’s ‘smug, controlling, and compulsive’ demeanor, marked by a belief in his own superiority over those around him, including world leaders and Nobel laureates, according to insights from a body language analyst.

“His most striking tell is a ‘Joker’ smile, where his upper lip lifts and holds in a symmetric rictus that borders on sinister,” body language expert Judi James explained to the Daily Mail after reviewing the footage.

James also noted, “Epstein frequently exhibits a penchant for power, superiority, and control. He uses phrases like ‘Let’s start…,’ ‘Good question,’ and ‘I’ll get to that later…’ to assert dominance. He even sighs when the interviewer interrupts with a question.”

Epstein pretends to choke himself during the interview with Steve Bannon before his death in 2019

Epstein’s sense of superiority was further emphasized by his hand gestures, often forming a ‘power steeple,’ with fingertips touching intermittently throughout the interview.

James added: ‘In mid flight his enthusiasm for his own words looks obvious. His sense of belief in his own power is verbalized too. He describes world leaders as popular politicians, not intellectual or great thinkers, suggesting he is smarter.’

At one point in the video Epstein is asked whether anyone in the world understands the financial system better than him.

After a theatrical pause, he arrogantly replies that no names jump into his head.

Bill Clinton and the late pedophile Jeffrey Epstein in a photograph released by the Department of Justice

Disturbing new images released as part of Friday’s Epstein files showed Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor crouching on all fours over a female lying on the floor

Former President Bill Clinton, Michael Jackson and Diana Ross in a photograph released as part of the Epstein files

‘When the interview appears to be going out of his control he raises both hands in a “crowd control” gesture,’ James said.

‘A direct question “Is your money dirty money?” prompts an eyelid stutter to suggest a degree of irritation and, for a moment, there is a glimpse of a harder, less friendly eye expression.’ 

In the interview, Bannon went on: ‘You earned it by advising the worst people in the world that do enormous, bad things, and just to make more money.’

‘Ethics is always a complicated subject.’ Epstein said.

Epstein killed himself in a New York jail cell in August 2019, aged 66, a month after he was indicted on federal sex trafficking charges.

The interview appeared to have been filmed in his New York home on an unknown date.

Part way through his interview with Steve Bannon, Epstein changed from a white shirt to a black one and donned different glasses. He was ‘smug and superior,’ according to body language expert Judi James

An undated photograph shows Jeffrey Epstein talking with Steve Bannon

It was released among three million documents about the pedophile, and government investigations into him, published by the Department of Justice last week.

The documents shed further light on Epstein’s connections to political and business leaders worldwide, including Bill Clinton, Microsoft’s Bill Gates, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, Sarah Ferguson, and former UK Ambassador Lord Mandelson.

Epstein, who pleaded guilty in 2008 to soliciting prostitution from an underage girl, appeared to try to downplay the seriousness of his conviction.

He opposed Bannon labeling him a ‘class three sexual predator,’ which indicates the most serious threat to public safety.

‘Tier 1, I’m the lowest,’ he said.

‘But a criminal,’ Bannon said, to which Epstein responded: ‘Yes.’

An undated photo released by Democrats on the House Oversight Committee shows Steve Bannon and Jeffrey Epstein taking a photo together

A photograph, released as part of the Epstein files, shows Lord Mandelson, the former UK Ambassador, in his underwear

At one point in the interview Bannon asked Epstein: ‘Do you think you’re the devil himself?’

‘No, but I do have a good mirror,’ Epstein replied, smiling.

When asked again, he added: ‘I don’t know. Why would you say that?’

‘Because you have all the attributes,’ Bannon said.

In the video Epstein talked about how he was in prison for sex offences in Florida in 2008 when he was told about the financial crash.

At one point, discussing the crash, he put his hand around his own throat in a choking motion.