Newly released Epstein files from the US Department of Justice are once again stirring online debate, after documents highlighted a mysterious “orange-colored shape” spotted on prison surveillance footage hours before Jeffrey Epstein’s death in 2019.
The documents were released under the Epstein Files Transparency Act, signed into law in late 2025. They include observation logs and analysis of security camera footage from the Metropolitan Correctional Center in New York, where Epstein was found dead on August 10, 2019.
According to an observation log, investigators reviewing footage from the night of August 9 noted an orange-colored figure moving up a stairwell toward the Special Housing Unit at around 10:39 p.m. Epstein was being held alone in that unit at the time.
One FBI-related log described the blurry image as “possibly an inmate” or an escorted inmate. However, the Department of Justice’s Office of Inspector General later said it was more likely a corrections officer carrying orange bedding or inmate clothing. The OIG said the figure appeared again minutes later and matched normal prison activity.
That explanation has not stopped speculation. Forensic video experts cited by CBS News said the shape looks more like a person in an orange prison jumpsuit than bundled fabric, though they stressed the footage is low quality, grainy, and taken from a limited angle.
Official investigations have not changed their conclusions. The FBI, the New York City medical examiner, and the Office of Inspector General all maintain that Epstein died by suicide. They blame a series of serious jail failures, including missed checks, falsified logs, broken cameras, and the absence of a cellmate.
The “orange shape” itself is not new and appeared in earlier reports as far back as 2023. However, the release of raw logs has made the detail easier to circulate, leading to viral posts claiming it contradicts the official story.
The Justice Department has warned that many videos and clips spreading online are misleading or unverified. Some viral footage has been linked to older debunked material, including fake or altered content briefly circulated online in late 2025.
While the latest files have reignited discussion, no major outlet has reported the detail as proof of foul play. Officials say the releases are part of transparency efforts, not evidence of a cover-up, as scrutiny around the Epstein case continues online.
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