Hours after financier Jeffrey Epstein was found dead in his New York jail cell on Saturday, unsubstantiated theories about his death began spreading online. Epstein, 66, had been awaiting trial on sex trafficking and conspiracy charges, to which he pleaded not guilty last month. Prison officials confirmed he died by suicide.
Epstein was known for his connections to high-profile figures, including President Donald Trump, former President Bill Clinton, and the UK's Prince Andrew. These ties have fueled speculation, with many questioning what his powerful associates may have known about his alleged crimes. The hashtag #EpsteinMurder trended worldwide, despite a complete lack of evidence for foul play.
Social media platforms were flooded with memes and jokes suggesting everything from a faked suicide to an orchestrated hit. Politicians and journalists also stoked the rumors. New York Mayor Bill de Blasio called Epstein's death "way too convenient," while President Trump's lawyer Rudy Giuliani questioned how a man on suicide watch could take his own life. However, prison officials later clarified Epstein had been removed from suicide watch before his death.
Further conspiracy theories centered on the hashtags #ClintonBodyCount and #TrumpBodyCount, used by conservatives and liberals respectively to implicate the Clintons or Trump in Epstein's death. Fact-checking site Snopes has previously debunked the long-running theory that the Clintons kill their enemies. Dylan Matthews of Vox noted, "There is no evidence whatsoever to suggest an outside person ordered Epstein's death."
While some valid questions remain about why Epstein was taken off suicide watch and why he was not checked every 30 minutes, the wild speculation has overshadowed these legitimate inquiries. Authorities continue to investigate the circumstances of his death.
