A series of CBS News reports throughout 2025 has exposed subtle but significant discrepancies in the surveillance footage from the Metropolitan Correctional Center, where Jeffrey Epstein died in August 2019. Officials, including former Attorney General William Barr, long cited the video as definitive proof that no one entered Epstein’s tier, supporting the official suicide ruling.
CBS’s forensic analysis revealed the released footage—described by the DOJ as “raw”—shows signs of being a screen recording, with visible cursors, onscreen menus, and metadata indicating creation in May 2025. Experts noted reduced frame rates and resolution inconsistencies, suggesting it was not a direct export from the prison’s DVR system.
The camera angle fails to capture key areas: the main SHU entrance and most of the staircase to Epstein’s tier remain obscured. A blurry orange shape ascending the stairs—officially identified as a guard carrying linens—was deemed by retired NYPD forensic expert Conor McCourt more likely an inmate in an orange jumpsuit.
Further scrutiny of later releases, including over 400 hours spanning back to July 2019, contradicted claims of a 30-day retention limit. Non-sequential clips and potential wiring changes raised questions about system integrity post-death.
While a recovered “missing minute” at midnight showed no activity—debunking some theories—the overall footage undermines assertions of comprehensive monitoring. CBS highlighted mismatches with the 2023 Inspector General report, including witness statements and staff movements.
These findings, amid ongoing Epstein file disclosures into late 2025, do not prove foul play but erode confidence in the investigation’s thoroughness. As public distrust lingers into 2026, the inconsistencies remind us that even “complete” evidence can harbor quiet doubts about one of history’s most scrutinized deaths.
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