The FBI released a memorandum and video log that record a "flash of orange" moving up the L Tier stairs at 10:39 p.m. on Aug. 9, 2019 — the night before Jeffrey Epstein was found dead. Independent analysts told CBS News the motion looked more like an inmate or someone in an orange jumpsuit than a corrections officer. Official reviews of Epstein's death do not mention the figure, and authorities had previously said no one entered the tier that night. Identifying the person could be important because the sighting falls within the estimated window of Epstein's death.
New FBI Log Showing a 'Flash of Orange' Near Epstein's Cell Rekindles Questions About His Death
A newly released FBI memorandum and video log showing a "flash of orange" moving toward the L Tier stairs of the Metropolitan Correctional Center the night before Jeffrey Epstein's death has renewed scrutiny of the timeline and activity around his housing unit.
What the Record Shows
The FBI log notes that at 10:39 p.m. on Aug. 9, 2019, "A flash or orange looks to be going up the L Tier stairs – could possibly be an inmate escorted up to that Tier." CBS News consulted independent video analysts who told the outlet the movement appeared more consistent with an inmate — or someone wearing an orange prison uniform — than with a corrections officer.
Background And Context
Epstein, who was awaiting trial on federal sex-trafficking charges, was found dead in his cell at 6:30 a.m. on Aug. 10, 2019. The official investigation concluded he died by suicide, hanging himself with bed sheets. That finding, however, has been disputed by critics and sparked conspiracy theories that he was killed to prevent him from naming powerful clients.
Why The New Log Matters
Official reviews of Epstein's death have not referenced the figure in orange, and senior officials — including then–Attorney General Bill Barr — previously stated that no one entered Epstein's housing tier the night he died. Corrections staff interviewed by CBS News said escorting an inmate at that hour would have been highly unusual. Because the sighting falls within the estimated window of Epstein's possible time of death, identifying the person could be important to reconstructing the timeline.
"A flash or orange looks to be going up the L Tier stairs – could possibly be an inmate escorted up to that Tier." — FBI memo entry, 10:39 p.m., Aug. 9, 2019
Public Reaction And Ongoing Questions
The video log's release has reignited debate and conspiracy claims. Figures who promoted doubts about the official account — including podcasters Kash Patel and Dan Bongino — later served in senior roles in the Trump administration; records indicate some of their earlier public statements were altered or softened after taking government positions. President Donald Trump is mentioned in parts of the released files; appearing in investigative files does not imply wrongdoing, and Trump has denied any involvement in Epstein's crimes.
What Comes Next
The newly disclosed memo and video log may prompt further review by investigators or oversight authorities and add pressure for additional transparency around the jail's logs and surveillance footage. At minimum, the entry raises a clear factual question: who, if anyone, was moving toward the L Tier stairs at 10:39 p.m. on Aug. 9, and why was that not reflected in official accounts?
Note: This account summarizes material released by the FBI and reporting by CBS News. It aims to present verified facts and relevant context without asserting unproven conclusions.
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