House Oversight panel seeks testimony from Epstein evidence removers

Lawmakers want to interview private investigators who took computers and other materials from Epstein's home before police searched it in 2005.

Mar. 27, 2026 at 5:24pm

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Democrats on the House Oversight Committee are seeking testimony from private investigators who removed and stored a trove of evidence from the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein's Palm Beach mansion before it was searched by police in 2005. The committee wants to interview the men about the removal of what could have been key evidence for police and prosecutors in their probe into Epstein's sex trafficking.

Why it matters

The removal of the potential evidence may have shielded Epstein from legal scrutiny and contributed to how he was able to largely evade justice for more than a decade. The Department of Justice's Office of Professional Responsibility faulted a former top federal prosecutor for agreeing to a plea deal with Epstein without securing the missing computers, including one that was believed to have video footage from Epstein's home surveillance cameras.

The details

According to a 2005 memo, private investigator William Riley visited Epstein's Palm Beach home to remove 'items of potential evidentiary value' less than two weeks before police raided the mansion in October 2005. Lavery removed more than 100 pieces of potential evidence, including three computers, 29 bound telephone directories and a listing of nearby masseuses, as well as a trove of sexually explicit materials. When the Palm Beach Police Department searched Epstein's home two weeks later, investigators noted that multiple computers from the property 'were conspicuously absent' from the home, including one linked to Epstein's surveillance system.

  • In October 2005, the Palm Beach Police Department raided Epstein's mansion.
  • Less than two weeks before the police raid, private investigator William Riley visited Epstein's home to remove potential evidence.

The players

House Oversight Committee

A committee in the U.S. House of Representatives that is seeking testimony from private investigators who removed evidence from Jeffrey Epstein's home.

Paul Lavery

A private investigator who visited Epstein's Palm Beach home to remove items of potential evidentiary value less than two weeks before police raided the mansion in 2005.

Stephen Kiraly

A former Miami police officer and private investigator who worked for Epstein.

William Riley

A former Miami police officer and private investigator who visited Epstein's home to remove potential evidence in 2005.

Darren Indyke

Epstein's longtime attorney who told lawmakers that the evidence was likely never turned over to law enforcement.

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What they’re saying

“After Epstein's conviction, after he served jail time, through conversations with defense counsel I became aware that there were computer hard drives in the possession of private investigators. I just don't know how they came into possession, but I knew of the existence of hard drives.”

— Darren Indyke, Epstein's longtime attorney

What’s next

The House Oversight Committee has requested that the private investigators appear separately for voluntary transcribed interviews by April 9. If the men do not cooperate, the committee could vote to subpoena them or the Republican chairman could compel them to testify.

The takeaway

The removal of potential evidence from Epstein's home before it was searched by police may have shielded him from legal scrutiny and allowed him to evade justice for years. This case highlights the importance of law enforcement having full access to all relevant evidence in criminal investigations.