Former U.S. attorney general William Barr has once again insisted that Jeffrey Epstein’s 2019 death in federal custody was a suicide, rejecting persistent conspiracy theories during testimony before House lawmakers this week.
What Happened
Barr, who led the Justice Department under former President Donald Trump when sex-trafficking charges were brought against Epstein, told the House Oversight Committee on Monday that evidence strongly supports suicide. His remarks came as part of the panel’s ongoing review into Epstein’s crimes, connections, and the circumstances of his death.
“For me, the video was the icing on the cake,” Barr said, noting that surveillance footage, Epstein’s state of mind, and other physical and testimonial evidence pointed clearly to suicide. He added that he did not believe it was possible for anyone to enter Epstein’s cell without being captured on camera.
Still, Barr acknowledged that the camera system had “a bit of a blind spot,” which he admitted might fuel lingering suspicions.
Conspiracy Theories and Security Lapses
Epstein’s death at the Metropolitan Correctional Center in New York has long fueled speculation. Security lapses, including sleeping guards and malfunctioning cameras, provided fertile ground for theories that Epstein had been silenced. Family members and Epstein’s former associate Ghislaine Maxwell have publicly suggested foul play, though no hard evidence has supported those claims.
Trump’s Reaction
Barr also revealed that he immediately briefed Trump after Epstein’s death.
“I called [the president] up and said, ‘You better brace for this,’” Barr recalled. Trump, he said, reacted much the same way he did: “How the hell did that happen, he’s in federal custody?”
In a later conversation, Trump distanced himself from Epstein, saying he had cut ties with him “long ago” after expelling him from Mar-a-Lago. The two men had once been friends for about 15 years before a public falling-out over a real estate deal.
Broader Oversight Committee Efforts
As part of its inquiry, the House Oversight Committee released letters from former attorneys general Alberto Gonzales and Jeff Sessions, both of whom said they had no relevant information about Epstein’s death. Chairman James Comer has also requested unredacted financial ledgers, flight logs, calendars, and message logs from Epstein’s estate, which has already provided partial records.
Former U.S. attorney Alex Acosta, who oversaw Epstein’s controversial 2008 plea deal that allowed him to serve just 13 months in jail under a work-release program, is scheduled to testify before the committee on Friday.
This story may be updated with more information as it becomes available.
