Statement Announcing Epstein’s Death Found in Files, Dated One Day Before His Jail Cell Suicide

The emergence of document EFTA00013180 in the Department of Justice (DOJ) Epstein Library has indeed fueled a new wave of public scrutiny. Released as part of the massive 3.5-million-page disclosure required by the Epstein Files Transparency Act, the file appears to pre-date Jeffrey Epstein’s death by roughly 24 hours.

Here is a breakdown of the facts regarding this specific document and the context provided by federal investigators.

The Discrepancy: August 9 vs. August 10

The controversy centers on a draft press release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York (SDNY), attributed to then-Manhattan U.S. Attorney Geoffrey Berman.

• Document EFTA00013180: Bears a header date of Friday, August 9, 2019. The text states that Epstein was found unresponsive “earlier this morning” and pronounced dead.
• The Official Timeline: Federal records, including Bureau of Prisons (BOP) logs and the New York City Medical Examiner’s report, state Epstein was found at 6:33 a.m. on Saturday, August 10, 2019, and pronounced dead at 7:36 a.m.

Possible Explanations for the Date Shift

Analysts and government officials have offered two primary interpretations for why a “death announcement” exists with a Friday date:

1. Administrative Clerical Error: The DOJ noted in its January 30, 2026, release statement that the trove includes raw, unvetted, and duplicated files. It is common for press offices to use existing templates or for “Friday” to be a default setting in drafting software that was not updated before the Saturday event.
2. Anticipatory Drafting: In high-profile custodial cases, especially those with previous suicide attempts (Epstein was placed on suicide watch in July 2019), agencies often prepare “shell” statements for various contingencies. However, the use of the past tense (“had been found”) remains the focal point for skeptics.

Supporting Evidence for the August 10 Timeline

While the document date is being debated, other files in the same DOJ dataset reinforce the August 10 timeline:

• CCTV Discrepancies: A July 2025 memo confirmed that while cameras outside Epstein’s cell malfunctioned, enhanced footage shows no one entered his cell area between 10:40 p.m. on August 9 and 6:30 a.m. on August 10.
• The “Orange Figure”: Investigators identified a figure in orange moving near the tier at 10:39 p.m. on August 9; while some speculated this was a “hitman,” the DOJ Inspector General concluded it was likely a corrections officer carrying orange linens.
• Incidental Logs: Internal logs record Epstein making a phone call and receiving a meal on the evening of August 9, indicating he was alive well past the time the disputed “Friday” press release would have been drafted.

The 2025/2026 Transparency Act Context

The release of these documents is the result of the Epstein Files Transparency Act, signed in late 2025. The DOJ has warned that the library contains “duplicate, incomplete, and at times, falsely submitted” materials sent to the FBI by the public over the years. However, EFTA00013180 is categorized as an internal SDNY disclosure, giving it more weight than external “tips.”+1

Note: The DOJ and FBI reaffirmed in a July 2025 joint analysis that there is “no credible evidence” of homicide or a “client list” that was suppressed.