The ‘Epstein’s Suicide’ Video in the Latest DOJ Release Isn’t What It Seems

An unlabeled video from the most recent Jeffrey Epstein files drop from the Department of Justice is circulating social media. While the 12-second video purports to show Epstein’s suicide in his prison cell, the preceding document in the production makes clear that it did not originate from the DOJ itself.

“Came across a purported video of Epstein's suicide (leaked by anonymous source),” the email reads, referencing an attachment and linking to a Google Drive file. “Is this real???”

WIRED spoke with the owner of the phone number listed on the website included in the email’s signature. Ali Kabbaj, who identified himself as an independent journalist, said that he found the video on the dark web and sent it to federal investigators in 2021 for confirmation. He says he never got a reply.

“I’m shocked I’m in these files,” he told WIRED.

The video first surfaced ...