After years of public speculation and political promises to release new details about Jeffrey Epstein’s activities, the U.S. Department of Justice announced Monday that there is no credible evidence supporting theories of a client list, blackmail, or foul play.
The Justice Department’s memo closes the door on lingering claims about Epstein’s connections to high-profile individuals. The document was unsigned but labeled as an official agency communication.
“No incriminating client list was uncovered,” the memo read. “There was also no credible evidence found that Epstein blackmailed prominent individuals as part of his actions.”
The department also stated it would not release any additional documents.
Jail Footage Shows No One Entered Cell
Ten hours of jailhouse surveillance footage were released along with the memo. The videos reportedly show no one entering Epstein’s cell on the day he died by suicide in August 2019 while awaiting trial on sex-trafficking charges.
The release follows years of claims from conservative commentators and social media users who believed the government was hiding key information.
The memo added: “This review confirmed that Epstein harmed over one thousand victims. Each suffered unique trauma. Sensitive information relating to these victims is intertwined throughout the materials.”
Trump-Era Promises and Disappointment
Earlier this year, Attorney General Pam Bondi suggested she had access to a client list, telling Fox News that it was “sitting on my desk.”
She linked the effort to directives from former President Donald Trump, whose administration later released binders labeled “The Epstein Files: Phase 1.”
The documents, however, contained information already publicly available.
Despite initial fanfare—including influencer visits to the White House—further updates never followed. Pressure grew online. DOJ and FBI social media accounts were inundated with demands to release more files.
Even high-level figures such as FBI Director Kash Patel and Deputy Director Dan Bongino, both previously critical of the Epstein investigation, admitted publicly that the evidence pointed to suicide.
Bongino, speaking in May, said the video footage was “clear as day.”
Victim Privacy Cited as Key Concern
The DOJ emphasized that much of the unreleased material contains sensitive details, including victim names, physical descriptions, and personal histories.
“One of our highest priorities is combatting child exploitation and bringing justice to victims,” the memo said. “Perpetuating unfounded theories about Epstein serves neither of those ends.”
The department concluded that no further disclosure would be “appropriate or warranted.”
Musk, Posobiec and Right-Wing Reaction
The announcement was quickly met with backlash. Elon Musk posted a meme showing a scoreboard titled “The Official Jeffrey Epstein Pedophile Arrest Counter” stuck at zero.
Jack Posobiec wrote on X: “If there were no clients, why is Ghislaine Maxwell still in jail?”
Another activist, Robby Starbuck, questioned Bondi’s prior claim: “Was she lying then or is she lying now?”
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt defended the investigation at a briefing, calling it “exhaustive.”
Asked directly about the supposed list, she clarified that Bondi had been referring broadly to the totality of documents relating to the case. DOJ spokesperson Chad Gilmartin echoed the same explanation to CNN.
Leavitt added that some materials were withheld because they included “incredibly graphic” content and child pornography.
“This administration wants anyone who has ever committed a crime to be held accountable,” she said. “They committed to an exhaustive investigation. That’s what they did, and they provided the results of that. That’s transparency.”
