Metadata Exhibits the FBI’s ‘Uncooked’ Jeffrey Epstein Jail Video Was Seemingly Modified
America Division of Justice this week launched practically 11 hours of what it described as “full uncooked” surveillance footage from a digicam positioned close to Jeffrey Epstein’s jail cell the night time earlier than he was discovered useless. The discharge was supposed to deal with conspiracy theories about Epstein’s obvious suicide in federal custody. However as an alternative of placing these suspicions to relaxation, it could gas them additional.
Metadata embedded within the video and analyzed by WIRED and unbiased video forensics consultants exhibits that somewhat than being a direct export from the jail’s surveillance system, the footage was modified, probably utilizing the skilled enhancing device Adobe Premiere Professional. The file seems to have been assembled from not less than two supply clips, saved a number of instances, exported, after which uploaded to the DOJ’s web site, the place it was introduced as “uncooked” footage.
Consultants warning that it’s unclear what precisely was modified, and that the metadata doesn’t show misleading manipulation. The video might have merely been processed for public launch utilizing out there software program, with no modifications past stitching collectively two clips. However the absence of a transparent rationalization for the processing of the file utilizing skilled enhancing software program complicates the Justice Division’s narrative. In a case already clouded by suspicion, the paradox surrounding how the file was processed is probably going to supply contemporary fodder for conspiracy theories.
Any facet of the official story that isn’t absolutely defined will likely be co-opted by conspiracy theorists, says Mike Rothschild, an creator who writes about conspiracy theories and extremists. “So no matter your taste of Epstein conspiracy is, the video will assist bolster it.”
For months main as much as the joint memo the DOJ and FBI printed Monday, lawyer normal Pam Bondi had promised the discharge of information associated to Epstein, elevating expectations that new, doubtlessly incriminating particulars may floor concerning the disgraced financier’s demise and his ties to highly effective people. Nevertheless, somewhat than revealing new info, the memo largely confirmed conclusions reached years earlier: that Epstein was present in a Manhattan jail cell on August 10, 2019, and died by suicide whereas awaiting trial on intercourse trafficking fees.
To help its conclusion, the FBI reviewed surveillance footage overlooking the widespread space of the Particular Housing Unit (SHU) on the Metropolitan Correctional Middle (MCC), the place Epstein was held. The FBI enhanced the footage by adjusting distinction, colour, and sharpness, and launched each the improved and what it described because the “uncooked” model. Each variations of the video seem to have been processed utilizing Premiere and embrace a lot of the identical metadata. In keeping with the FBI, anybody coming into the realm containing Epstein’s cell in the course of the related time-frame would have been seen on that digicam.
Working with two unbiased video forensics consultants, WIRED examined the 21-gigabyte information launched by the DOJ. Utilizing a metadata device, reporters analyzed each Exchangeable Picture File Format (EXIF) and Extensible Metadata Platform (XMP) knowledge to determine indicators of postprocessing.
The “uncooked” file exhibits clear indicators of getting been processed utilizing an Adobe product, almost certainly Premiere, based mostly on metadata that particularly references file extensions utilized by the video enhancing software program. In keeping with consultants, Adobe software program, together with Premiere and Photoshop, leaves traces in exported information, usually embedding metadata that logs which belongings had been used and what actions had been taken throughout enhancing. On this case, the metadata signifies the file was saved not less than 4 instances over a 23-minute span on Could 23, 2025, by a Home windows consumer account referred to as “MJCOLE~1.” The metadata doesn’t present whether or not the footage was modified earlier than every time it was saved.