Republican Sen. John Kennedy of Louisiana pressed FBI Director Kash Patel on Thursday about the mysterious death of Jeffrey Epstein, asking if Americans will ever know whether the convicted sex offender killed himself or was murdered.
“Did Jeffrey Epstein hang himself or did somebody kill him?” Kennedy asked during a Senate Appropriations subcommittee hearing.
Patel responded, “Senator, I believe he hung himself in a cell in the Metropolitan Detention Center.”
Kennedy wasn’t satisfied. “Are you going to release all the information about that?”
Patel replied, “We are working through that right now with the Department of Justice.”
Attorney General Pam Bondi said Wednesday the FBI is still reviewing “tens of thousands” of videos Epstein had in his possession—some reportedly involving child pornography. Kennedy pushed for a timeline.
“When you think you’ll have it done, Kash?” Kennedy asked. Patel responded vaguely, “I think… in the near future?”
Kennedy fired back, “Like before I die?” prompting a chuckle from Patel.
The FBI director emphasized the need to protect victims and avoid public release of disturbing content like child sexual abuse material, or CSAM.
Epstein’s ties to powerful figures—including Lex Wexner, Woody Allen, Prince Andrew, and Bill Gates—have kept public interest high in the years since his 2019 death in federal custody.
When asked about the delay in releasing Epstein-related files during an April 22 White House event, President Trump said he would speak with Attorney General Bondi but couldn’t provide specifics.
“I know that we’ve done the RFK, the Kennedy, Martin Luther King is out there very shortly,” Trump said. “We’re doing them in full transparency.”
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