Republican Senator John Kennedy of Louisiana questioned FBI Director Kash Patel on Thursday regarding the circumstances surrounding the death of convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, demanding clarity on both the cause of death and the timeline for the release of related information.
During a Senate Appropriations Committee’s Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies hearing, Kennedy directly asked Patel about Epstein’s death, which was officially ruled a suicide by hanging in 2019. “Did Jeffrey Epstein hang himself or did somebody kill him?” Kennedy inquired.
Patel responded, “Senator, I believe he hung himself in a cell in the Metropolitan Detention Center.”
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Kennedy pressed further, asking, “Are you going to release all the information about that?” Patel stated, “Senator, we are working through that right now with the Department of Justice.”
The hearing also addressed the ongoing review of a substantial amount of evidence. US Attorney General Pam Bondi stated Wednesday that the FBI is currently reviewing “tens of thousands” of child exploitation videos found in the possession of deceased financier Jeffrey Epstein.
Kennedy sought a concrete timeline for the completion of this review. “When you think you’ll have it done, Kash?” Kennedy asked. Patel responded, “I think… in the near future?”
Kennedy, expressing skepticism, asked, “Like before I die?” prompting a chuckle from Patel, who clarified, “Senator… we are, we’ve been working on that and we are doing it in a way that protects victims and also doesn’t put out into the ether information that is irrelevant for production for the public, such as CSAM [child sexual abuse material].”
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Bondi’s comments shed light on the scale of the ongoing investigation as a conservative watchdog group, Judicial Watch, has filed a lawsuit against the Department of Justice (DOJ) seeking the release of related records, particularly those identifying Epstein’s clients or associates.
Speaking to reporters Wednesday after announcing plans for a press conference, Bondi explained that the sheer volume and sensitive nature of the material were factors in the FBI’s lengthy review process. “The FBI, they’re reviewing… there are tens of thousands of videos of Epstein with children or child porn and there are hundreds of victims and no one victim will ever get released, it’s just the volume and that’s what they’re going through right now,” Bondi said. “The FBI is diligently going through that… I’ll call him later.”
The lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia (Case No. 1:25-cv-01056), specifically demands “comprehensive records” concerning Epstein, with a key focus on information identifying his clients or associates. Judicial Watch initiated the suit after alleging the DOJ failed to adequately respond to four separate Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests submitted to various components, including the Office of Information Policy, the Criminal Division, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).
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The case has drawn significant public attention due to Epstein’s connections to numerous high-profile figures, including celebrities, politicians, and business executives. Among those who interacted with Epstein are L Brands founder Lex Wexner, director Woody Allen, and Prince Andrew. Reports also indicate that Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates met with Epstein on multiple occasions, even after his 2008 guilty plea for sex charges.
When questioned about the delay in releasing the files during an April 22 White House event, the current President stated, “I don’t know, I’ll speak to the attorney general about that. I really don’t know… But … we’ve really, really announced, we’re doing them in full transparency.”
Judicial Watch argues that a prior document release by the Justice Department on February 27, 2025, was insufficient and that the DOJ is legally obligated under FOIA to provide a more complete response to their requests. “Simply put, the Justice Department needs to respond to public demands for transparency under law and release the Epstein files under FOIA,” stated Judicial Watch President Tom Fitton.
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Senator Kennedy’s line of questioning, coupled with the ongoing lawsuit and Bondi’s revelations about the extensive video evidence, underscores the continued intense public and legal pressure for transparency surrounding the Epstein case and the individuals associated with his crimes.
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