DOJ's 'raw' Epstein prison video likely modified, political crisis widens as FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino thinks of resignation
U.S. Department of Justice
's release of what it called 'raw' surveillance footage from outside
Jeffrey Epstein's
prison cell has plunged the Trump administration's law enforcement leadership into chaos. The video, intended to quell years of speculation about Epstein's 2019 death, was revealed by independent analysts to have been edited before its release, triggering the resignation of FBI Deputy Director
Dan Bongino
and threatening the stability of the FBI's top ranks.
Metadata reveals video was not 'raw'
The DOJ released over 11 hours of surveillance footage from a hallway camera outside Epstein's cell at the
Metropolitan Correctional Center
in New York, claiming it showed no one entered his cell prior to his death in August 2019. However, a technical review by WIRED and other video forensics experts found the video's metadata shows it was processed using Adobe Premiere Pro, a professional editing program, and assembled from at least two separate source clips. The file was saved multiple times within a 23-minute period on May 23, 2025, before being uploaded to the DOJ website and labeled as 'raw' footage.
Experts stress that while the metadata does not prove deceptive tampering, it confirms the footage is not a direct export from the prison's surveillance system. The edits could be as simple as joining clips for public release, but the lack of a clear official explanation has fueled further suspicion and speculation. As author Mike Rothschild noted, 'Any aspect of the official story that isn't fully explained will be co-opted by conspiracy theorists'.
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The released footage covers the period from 8:00 PM on August 9, 2019, to around 7:00 AM the next morning. The camera does not directly capture Epstein's cell door, and there is no dramatic activity in the footage. However, the DOJ's own memo and media reports confirm the existence of a 'missing minute' in the recording, raising further questions about the chain of custody and completeness of the evidence.
DOJ memo and broken promises
The controversy comes on the heels of a DOJ memo, signed by both DOJ and FBI leadership, which closed the Epstein investigation and reaffirmed the official finding of suicide. The memo directly contradicted months of public statements by
Attorney General Pam Bondi
, who had repeatedly promised explosive disclosures and a so-called 'client list.' Instead, the memo stated there was no credible evidence of blackmail or a high-profile list, and no further documents would be released.
Bongino's resignation
The fallout from the DOJ's handling of the Epstein files and the video release erupted into a fierce internal clash. Bongino, a trusted deputy to
FBI Director Kash Patel
, had a heated confrontation with Bondi at the White House earlier this week. The dispute centered on Bondi's management of the case, the release of the edited video, and the DOJ's abrupt closure of the investigation.
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Sources confirm Bongino did not report to work Friday and has informed colleagues of his resignation, citing irreconcilable differences with Bondi and frustration over the DOJ's lack of transparency. FBI Director Kash Patel is also reportedly considering stepping down if Bongino leaves, further escalating the crisis.
'He's gone,' one source told Semafor. 'Will come back if Bondi [is] held accountable.'
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