FBI Logs Raise Questions Over Mystery Orange Blob Near Epstein's Cell Before Death

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Newly released FBI logs reveal that the agency initially believed a mysterious orange shape spotted near Jeffrey Epstein's jail cell the night before his death in 2019 could have been an "inmate." The logs show the FBI reviewed surveillance video from inside the Metropolitan Correctional Center and noted "a flash of orange" heading up a stairwell close to Epstein's cell at 10:39 pm. However, the final report by the Office of Inspector General stated the orange blob was an "unidentified CO," or correctional officer.

Why it matters

The new FBI logs raise further questions about the circumstances surrounding Epstein's death, which has been the subject of intense scrutiny and conspiracy theories. The discrepancy between the FBI's initial assessment and the final report's conclusion highlights the ongoing uncertainty and lack of transparency around the events leading up to Epstein's apparent suicide.

The details

The FBI logs, which were included in the latest tranche of Epstein files released by the Justice Department, specifically noted that "a flash of orange" could be seen heading up a stairwell close to Epstein's cell at 10:39 pm the night before his death. The FBI initially believed this could have been an "inmate." However, a separate review by the Office of Inspector General also noted the orange object but said that inmates were on lockdown at the time, suggesting it could have been "someone carrying inmate linen or bedding up the stairs." The final report by the Inspector General stated the orange blob was an "unidentified CO," or correctional officer.

• Epstein was found dead in his cell in the early hours of August 10, 2019.
• The FBI reviewed surveillance video from the night before Epstein's death, on August 9, 2019 at 10:39 pm.