DOJ and FBI Claim Jeffrey Epstein Had No 'Client List,' and Died by Suicide, but Questions Linger

NEW YORK — In a report released late Sunday, July 6, 2025, the Department of Justice (DOJ) and Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) concluded that disgraced financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein did not maintain a “client list” of powerful figures, did not blackmail prominent individuals, and died by suicide in his Manhattan cell in August 2019. The findings, touted as a definitive debunking of long-running conspiracy theories, aim to put to rest speculation about Epstein’s activities and death. Yet, the timing and context of the report raise questions about whether the full story has been told.

### Official Findings and Video Evidence

According to a two-page DOJ memo obtained by Axios, the FBI conducted an exhaustive review of its investigative holdings, including digital and physical searches of databases, hard drives, and storage areas. The report asserts there is “no incriminating ‘client list’” and no evidence that Epstein blackmailed high-profile individuals. To support the suicide ruling, the DOJ and FBI released over 10 hours of surveillance footage from the Metropolitan Correctional Center (MCC), both in raw and “enhanced” versions, claiming it shows no one entered the area of Epstein’s cell on the night of his death. The footage aligns with the 2019 New York City medical examiner’s conclusion of suicide by hanging and a 2023 DOJ Inspector General report that cited negligence and misconduct by MCC staff but found no evidence of foul play.[](https://www.axios.com/2025/07/07/jeffrey-epstein-suicide-client-list-trump-administration)[](https://brobible.com/culture/article/jeffrey-epstein-committed-suicide-client-list/)

FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino, a vocal figure appointed by President Trump, emphasized the clarity of the evidence on Fox News in May 2025, stating, “He killed himself. I’ve seen the whole file.” The DOJ further noted that releasing additional Epstein-related materials would be inappropriate, citing concerns about exposing child sexual abuse details or implicating innocent individuals.[](https://www.axios.com/2025/07/07/jeffrey-epstein-suicide-client-list-trump-administration)[](https://www.foxnews.com/us/fbi-deputy-director-confirms-jeffrey-epstein-died-suicide-based-agencys-files)

### Skepticism Amid High-Profile Connections

While the DOJ and FBI present their findings as conclusive, the report’s release has sparked skepticism, particularly given Epstein’s extensive ties to influential figures. Epstein, who was arrested in July 2019 on federal sex trafficking charges, was known to socialize with former Presidents Bill Clinton and Donald Trump, Prince Andrew, and other elites. A 2018 off-the-record comment to a New York Times reporter, where Epstein claimed to have “dirt” on powerful people, fueled speculation about blackmail, as did reports of compact discs labeled with names found in his New York mansion.[](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jeffrey_Epstein)

The absence of a “client list” in the DOJ’s findings contrasts with earlier suggestions of hidden records. In February 2025, Attorney General Pamela Bondi announced the release of Epstein-related files, only to discover thousands of pages were initially withheld by the FBI, prompting criticism and questions about transparency. Posts on X reflect public frustration, with some users questioning the report’s timing—a Sunday night news dump—and others sarcastically noting the DOJ’s swift dismissal of long-standing theories. One user remarked, “I didn’t think it could get any worse after the binders stunt,” referring to a theatrical display of Epstein files by conservative influencers.[](https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/attorney-general-pamela-bondi-releases-first-phase-declassified-epstein-files)

### A History of Doubt

Epstein’s death on August 10, 2019, has long been a lightning rod for conspiracy theories, amplified by irregularities at the MCC. A 2023 DOJ Inspector General report detailed “numerous and serious failures” by prison staff, including overworked guards who falsified logs, a surplus of bed linens in Epstein’s cell, and non-functional surveillance cameras in the Special Housing Unit. Two guards faced charges for falsifying records but avoided jail time through plea deals. These lapses, combined with Epstein’s prior apparent suicide attempt in July 2019, have fueled doubts about the official narrative, despite the FBI’s insistence that no criminality was involved.[](https://www.pbs.org/newshour/nation/misconduct-by-federal-jail-guards-led-to-jeffrey-epsteins-suicide-doj-watchdog-says)[](https://oig.justice.gov/news/doj-oig-releases-report-bops-custody-care-and-supervision-jeffrey-epstein-metropolitan)

Public figures, including then-President Trump in 2019, fanned the flames by retweeting claims linking Epstein’s death to the Clintons, while Democrats have questioned Trump’s own ties to Epstein, noting their acquaintance in the 1990s. Trump distanced himself in 2019, claiming he barred Epstein from his resorts and hadn’t spoken to him in years.[](https://www.axios.com/2025/07/07/jeffrey-epstein-suicide-client-list-trump-administration)[](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Death_of_Jeffrey_Epstein)

### Transparency or Closure?

The DOJ’s latest report, described as part of President Trump’s commitment to transparency, is the first time his administration has directly addressed Epstein conspiracy theories. However, the decision to close the case without further disclosures has drawn criticism. Representative Eric Swalwell, a Democrat, posted a redacted Epstein document on X, sarcastically noting, “You were promised the full Epstein files. You got this.” The lack of new revelations, coupled with the DOJ’s refusal to release additional materials, leaves some wondering if the report is less about transparency and more about quelling persistent questions.[](https://www.npr.org/2025/02/28/nx-s1-5312936/epstein-files-release-rickroll-backlash)

As the Epstein saga fades from headlines, the report may satisfy those seeking closure, but for others, the absence of a “client list” and the reliance on grainy surveillance footage fail to fully dispel the cloud of suspicion. With victims still seeking justice and powerful names tied to Epstein’s orbit, the public’s appetite for answers may outlast the DOJ’s efforts to draw a line under one of the most controversial cases in recent memory.