New York, United States. Newly released material from the US Department of Justice has renewed debate over the 2019 death of Jeffrey Epstein while he was in custody at the Metropolitan Correctional Center in New York. The official account states he died by suicide while awaiting trial on charges of sexually exploiting minors.
Video reference and the “orange flash”
Among the disclosures is reference to an “orange flash” appearing in video footage from Epstein’s final hours. The footage shows a blurred figure dressed in orange moving toward the area of Epstein’s cell about an hour before his body was discovered.
Prisoners wear orange clothing, and the timing has drawn attention because the “flash” is described as appearing at 10:39 pm, less than eight hours before Epstein, 66, was found dead in his cell. The documents have raised questions about the identity of the person shown and how someone approached the cell area when inmates were meant to have been locked in for the night.
Prepared announcement and disputed explanation
The documents also indicate the US Department of Justice had prepared an official announcement about Epstein’s death hours before he was found dead. That detail has fuelled claims of an organised cover-up, though an official responsible described it as a “clerical error.”
Cooperation discussions and wider allegations
The records describe discussions between Epstein’s lawyers and authorities about a possible cooperation agreement in which he could have identified other responsible parties in exchange for a reduced sentence.
The files also refer to a possible link between Epstein and Russian criminal organisations, suggesting he may have used connections to gather compromising information for Russian intelligence services. The documents also point to Epstein’s relationships with political and financial figures worldwide and note allegations that some were vulnerable to exposure.
What questions do the newly released Justice Department documents raise for you about the circumstances of Epstein’s death?
