The Justice Department and the FBI have officially stated that there is no evidence supporting the existence of a client list associated with the disgraced financier and convicted sex offender, Jeffrey Epstein. This revelation comes from a two-page memo that summarizes an exhaustive review of the Epstein files held by the department. The findings indicate that Epstein's death was a suicide, aligning with previous conclusions drawn by the department.
These new conclusions stand in stark contrast to earlier statements made by Attorney General Pam Bondi, who had alluded to the existence of a client list linked to Epstein. The memo raises questions about whether the public skepticism surrounding Epstein's case, particularly regarding his death, will be alleviated. Epstein died in a federal facility in New York City in August 2019 while awaiting trial on serious federal sex-trafficking charges. His death has since sparked numerous conspiracy theories, largely fueled by his connections to influential figures.
Axios was the first outlet to report on the contents of the memo. Attorney General Bondi has consistently promised the release of documents from the Epstein investigation, sharing a limited number of files in February. She framed this release as a commitment to transparency and a means to expose the heinous actions of Epstein and his associates. During an interview with Fox News that same month, Bondi claimed that Epstein's alleged client list was "sitting on my desk right now for review." In light of the recent memo, her assertions appear to be contradicted.
The systematic review conducted by the department revealed no incriminating client list associated with Epstein. Furthermore, the memo states that no credible evidence was found indicating that Epstein engaged in blackmail against prominent individuals. The investigation concluded with the statement: "We did not uncover evidence that could predicate an investigation against uncharged third parties."
When questioned about Bondi's earlier comments, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt attempted to downplay the inconsistencies. Leavitt stated that Bondi was referring to the complete collection of documents related to Epstein's crimes. She emphasized that the attorney general and the FBI director had committed to a thorough review of the Epstein materials, which they have now shared with the public, characterizing the action as a demonstration of transparency.
The unsigned memo details that the FBI and the Justice Department meticulously examined their investigative files concerning Epstein. This included digital searches of databases, hard drives, and physical searches of cabinets and desks. According to the memo, Epstein died by suicide on August 10, 2019, at the Metropolitan Correctional Center in New York City. This conclusion is consistent with findings from the city’s chief medical examiner and the U.S. Attorney's Office in Manhattan. The memo also references video footage from the prison unit where Epstein was held, confirming that no one entered the tier during the critical timeframe surrounding his death.
Despite some skepticism from individuals like FBI Director Kash Patel and Deputy Director Dan Bongino, who previously questioned the official account of Epstein's demise, both have since acknowledged that Epstein took his own life. The memo also highlights that there are over 1,000 victims of Epstein's abuse, with sensitive information about them included in the investigation files. The department emphasizes that combating child exploitation and delivering justice to victims remain top priorities, and that spreading baseless theories about Epstein's case does not serve these goals.
