Metadata Confirms 'Raw' Jeffrey Epstein Prison Video Processed with Adobe Premiere Pro, Exported in 2025

A recent investigation by WIRED magazine has revealed that the "raw" surveillance footage released by the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) from outside Jeffrey Epstein's prison cell was likely modified, not a direct export from the original system. "Metadata shows the FBI’s ‘raw’ Jeffrey Epstein prison video was likely modified," tweeted WIRED, pointing to their detailed analysis. This finding challenges the DOJ's assertion of providing unedited footage, intensifying long-standing skepticism surrounding Epstein's 2019 death by suicide.

The analysis of the video's embedded metadata by WIRED and independent forensics experts indicates that the file was processed using Adobe Premiere Pro, a professional video editing software. Furthermore, the metadata shows the video was saved multiple times and exported on July 4, 2025, nearly six years after the footage was recorded and just days before its public release. Experts noted the file appears to be a composite assembled from at least two separate source clips, lacking standard watermarks or camera IDs typically found in authentic surveillance footage.

Hany Farid, a digital forensics professor at UC Berkeley, reviewed the metadata and expressed concerns about the chain of custody. Farid stated that if presented with such a file in court, he would advise against its use, recommending a direct export from the original system to preserve integrity. He also highlighted anomalies such as noticeable shifts in the video's aspect ratio, further questioning its "raw" designation.

Adding to the discrepancies, the released footage contains a notable one-minute gap, jumping from 11:58:58 PM to 12:00:00 AM. While Attorney General Pam Bondi attributed this to a technical quirk in the surveillance system, stating it occurs in every night's recording, this explanation was not included in the DOJ's accompanying memo. The footage, intended to show no one entered Epstein's cell area, also comes from cameras that did not directly capture his cell door, and other cameras were reportedly malfunctioning at the time of his death.

The revelations have fueled public suspicion and led to political fallout, with figures like FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino reportedly considering resignation over the handling of the Epstein files. Critics argue that presenting a clearly processed video as "raw" undermines trust and provides further fodder for conspiracy theories, rather than putting them to rest. The lack of transparent explanations from the FBI and DOJ regarding the video's processing continues to draw scrutiny.