New Records Describe Alleged Shredding at Epstein’s Jail Days After His Death

Overview

• Newly obtained FBI and OIG documents reported by the Miami Herald detail claims that a Bureau of Prisons after‑action team destroyed large volumes of paperwork at the Metropolitan Correctional Center shortly after Aug. 10, 2019.
• An Aug. 16 tip from a correctional officer said four or five bags of shredded documents were thrown into the facility’s dumpster, and a separate memo described an inmate carrying “bales” of shredded paper.
• An OIG interview with the inmate recorded that he said he had no idea what was shredded, and a federal agent’s email noted the trash had been collected when they sought to inspect the dumpster.
• An Aug. 29 FBI memo closed the shredding inquiry, stating the complaining officer had a history of unfounded allegations and that no evidence supported the complaint.
• Investigatory records also state that prior institutional count slips at the facility were missing, and two officers on duty the night Epstein died told OIG they knew nothing about his missing file.