A puzzling “lost minute” in the Jeffrey Epstein CCTV footage is sparking further conspiracy theories and has led Donald Trump to vocally challenge inquiries regarding the investigation into Epstein’s death.
The irate president cut off a reporter during their question to Attorney General Pam Bondi at a Cabinet meeting on Tuesday, spurred by the uproar online over a leaked memo.
Trump said: “Are you still talking about Jeffrey Epstein? This guy’s been talked about for years.
“I can’t believe you’re bringing up Epstein at a time like this, when we’re achieving significant success and also facing the tragedy of what happened in Texas; it just feels disrespectful.”
A leaked FBI and Department of Justice (DOJ) memo on Monday revealed the results to a probe into the paedo financier’s death and activities.
The agencies released 11 hours of CCTV from inside the prison, found Epstein’s death was suicide, and claimed there was no client list that he kept to blackmail the rich and powerful involved in the sex crimes.
But speculation and mystery has swirled after a missing minute was found in the footage and the no-client list claim ran against what Trump officials had previously said.
Bondi explained that the lost minute in the footage – which occurs at 11.59pm – was due to the prison’s outdated system.
She said: “There was a minute that was off the counter, and what we learned from the Bureau of Prisons is every night they redo that video… every night should have the same minute missing.”
No client list existing also runs directly against what administration officials like FBI director Kash Patel and Bondi herself had previously said.
In an interview on Fox News in February, Bondi herself said the client list was “sitting on my desk right now to review.”
She addressed the comment during Tuesday’s cabinet meeting saying that she meant the Epstein file in its entirety.
Bondi said: “I did an interview on Fox, and it’s been getting a lot of attention because I said I was asked a question about the client list, and my response was, it’s sitting on my desk to be reviewed.
“Meaning the file, along with the JFK, MLK files as well. That’s what I meant by that.”
The so-called client list has been the subject of conspiracy theories for years as people speculated Epstein blackmailed prominent figures involved with the sick crimes.
The FBI also found in its investigation that Epstein’s death was a suicide – confirming what a medical examiner had said.
The cause of the banker’s death had also been subject to rampant conspiracy theories online.
To try and end those, the FBI released 11 hours of footage from inside the Metropolitan Correctional Centre in New York City on August 9 and 10 in 2019.
CCTV footage doesn’t show Epstein’s cell door but it would capture anyone walking to it, the DOJ said.
Other than the guard leaving, no one walks across the common area towards Epstein’s cell or away from it.
At approximately 10.39pm, a guard appeared to walk in the direction of Epstein’s cell and then reappeared within view of the camera at 10.41pm.
This is believed to be the last time anyone entered the area of Epstein’s cell before the next morning.
But the missing minute then happens at 11.59pm – with the time switching from 11.58.59pm to midnight.
Guards can be seen walking around the common area just before 6.30am on the 10th as they deliver breakfast.
At approximately 6.33am, more guards enter the common area and walk towards the area of Epstein’s cell – presumably after he was found dead in his cell.
Epstein was pronounced dead six minutes later.
In the almost six years since Epstein’s death in 2019, many people have spoken out about conspiracy theories relating to potential foul play around his suicide.
If you or someone you know is affected by any of the issues raised in this story, call or text the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988, chat on 988lifeline.org, or text Crisis Text Line at 741741.
