- One of the cameras in the hallway outside of Epstein’s cell captured footage that was deemed unusable, though it is unclear what about the footage investigators deemed not usable, The Washington Post reported.
- Epstein died by suicide in his cell at the Metropolitan Correctional Center earlier this month, prompting a federal investigation into the circumstances surrounding his death.
- Epstein’s defense team blasted the “medieval conditions” of the federal prison, blaming their employer’s death on the prison’s broken protocol.
Some video footage taken outside criminal financier Jeffrey Epstein’s cell the night of his death was deemed unusable by investigators, The Washington Post reported.
Epstein died by suicide in his cell at the Metropolitan Correctional Center earlier this month, prompting a federal investigation into the circumstances surrounding his death. Both the FBI and the Justice Department’s inspector general’s office are investigating.
The Post reported that one of the cameras in the hallway outside of Epstein’s cell captured unusable footage, though it is unclear what about the footage made investigators deem it unusable. Clearer footage was captured in the vicinity by other cameras, according to The Post.
Since Epstein’s death, reports have surfaced detailing incidents of alleged broken protocol, including guards reportedly sleeping on their shift, Epstein being housed alone, and the prison facing severe staffing shortages.
After the cause of death was deemed a suicide by the New York chief medical examiner, Epstein’s defense team said in a statement that they were “not satisfied” with the conclusion and blasted the “medieval conditions” of the federal prison, blaming their employer’s death on broken protocol.
They announced that they would be conducting an independent investigation alongside the federal probes, saying that would use legal action, if necessary, “to view the pivotal videos — if they exist as they should — of the area proximate to Mr. Epstein’s cell during the time period leading to his death.”
Epstein was charged in July with conspiracy and sex trafficking of minors. He was transferred to suicide watch after he was found unconscious with bruises around his neck, but was taken off constant observation in late July. He was found dead in his cell a little less than two weeks later.