Why crucial Jeffrey Epstein footage was missing as Donald Trump releases files amid 'client list' controversy

A supposedly crucial piece of footage missing from the night Jeffrey Epstein died has been released as Donald Trump unveiled more than 33,000 pages of documents on the disgraced financier.

The US president has faced mounting backlash in recent months for going back on his pre-election promise of unveiling said documents.

Between batting away rumors of his own death and worrying that China, North Korea and Russia are conspiring against America, he ordered the release of 33,295 pages of the elusive files on Tuesday (September 2).

Multi-millionaire Epstein had mingled with some of the most powerful people in the world - but he was eventually exposed for sex trafficking underage girls.

He dodged jail time back in 2008 with a controversial plea deal, only to be arrested again in July 2019 on fresh federal charges.

Just days later, he was found dead while on 'suicide watch' in his Manhattan jail cell. His death was later ruled a suicide by officials.

Jeffrey Epstein died on August 10 2019 (Kypros/Getty Images)

Footage from outside the 66-year-old's jail cell the night he died was released two months ago, though not in full. Most notably, a 'missing minute' between 11pm on August 9 and midnight on August 10 2019 was spotted, fueling conspiracy theories and rumors. Epstein was ruled to have died on August 10.

Among the new releases ordered by Trump was court filings, emails, flight logs - and some fresh jail surveillance video footage.

Two extra hours of video - totaling 13 hours and 41 seconds - covering August 9 and 10 were released.

Now, the BBC reports, the 'missing minute' has been filled, and while theorists hoped it would shed new light on the truth behind Epstein's death - it hasn't. Nothing new actually happens in this newly-released footage.

The 'missing minute' is still missing, but this is unsurprising given US Attorney General Pam Bondi's explanation for the footage being missing in the first place.

Pressure had been mounting on Trump to release the files (Adam Gray/Getty Images)

She claimed the missing minute was a result of the video being 'reset', and that 'every night should have the same minute missing'.

Missing from the many pages of Epstein files is his rumored secret 'client list' which people reckon could implicate other powerful individuals in his illegal activities.

Back in July, Trump publicly dismissed the Epstein Files as fabrications engineered by the Democrats and urged supporters to drop the matter entirely.

Later that month, he rejected the existence of a client list, calling it a 'hoax' and criticizing ongoing investigations as politically motivated.

Yet a Financial Times analysis reports that Trump made a 'campaign promise to release the so-called Epstein files', a pledge his supporters still cited in July 2025 when the administration declined to publish any additional documents.

Epstein previously rubbed shoulders with Trump and Melania (Davidoff Studios/Getty Images)

While Trump and Epstein were formerly friends, the pair's relationship soured after the financier began poaching his staff, according to Trump.

"He took people that work for me, and I told him, 'Don’t do it any more'. And he did it. I said, 'Stay the hell out of here'," the POTUS told reporters.