Jeffrey Epstein died by suicide, did not operate a blackmail scheme, and maintained no secret “client list,” according to a joint memorandum released Monday by the FBI and U.S. Department of Justice, which aims to debunk persistent conspiracy theories surrounding the disgraced financier.
The government memo, first reported by Axios, comes after what officials describe as an “exhaustive review” of evidence in the years since Epstein was found dead in his Manhattan jail cell in August 2019, while awaiting trial on federal sex trafficking charges.
“After a thorough investigation, FBI investigators concluded that Jeffrey Epstein committed suicide in his cell,” the memo stated. Surveillance footage confirmed that no one entered or attempted to enter his cell during the critical hours overnight.
The memo also dismissed claims that Epstein maintained a list of powerful individuals involved in his crimes. “This systematic review revealed no incriminating ‘client list,'” it said, adding that while Epstein possessed thousands of images and videos of victims, many underage girls, investigators found no credible evidence implicating third parties in criminal wrongdoing.
Epstein, once a well-connected financier with ties to high-profile figures, including Prince Andrew and former U.S. presidents, had long been the focus of speculation about whether he used his access to elite circles for blackmail. But the memo asserts no such scheme existed.
The document confirms that Epstein harmed over a thousand victims but states that his longtime associate, Ghislaine Maxwell, remains the only person criminally charged in connection with his sex trafficking operation. Maxwell is currently serving a 20-year sentence following her 2021 conviction.
Despite the government’s findings, conspiracy theories continue to swirl, especially in political corners. Some far-right supporters of former President Donald Trump have alleged a cover-up by Democrats and elites, while notably omitting Trump himself from their accusations.
Tensions escalated last month when billionaire Elon Musk accused Trump of being in the “Epstein files” during a public falling out on social media. Musk later deleted the posts. Trump’s name appeared in documents unsealed earlier this year, though he has not been accused of any criminal behavior.
Ironically, some of the conspiracy narratives had been promoted by Trump allies, including former FBI director Kash Patel and ex-agent Dan Bongino, both of whom previously questioned the official account of Epstein’s death, the very account now reaffirmed by the agency they once served.
Written By Rodney Mbua
