In a disturbing and bizarre moment captured on camera, convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein pretended to choke himself during a rare interview with former White House strategist Steve Bannon. The footage forms part of millions of documents recently published by the US Department of Justice, shedding new light on the disgraced financier's personality and connections.
The Choking Incident and Financial Crash Discussion
The incident occurred as Epstein and Bannon discussed how the financier learned about the 2008 financial crisis while incarcerated. Epstein described being in solitary confinement in a Florida jail, where he was serving a 13-month sentence for soliciting prostitution from an underage girl.
'They said it's all over the papers, we're all terrified we're going to lose our life savings,' Epstein recounted prison guards telling him. 'We don't know anything about money, Mr Epstein can you tell us what's going on? Am I going to be able to afford my children's education, am I going to be bankrupt like this company called Lehman Brothers?'
When Bannon mentioned another troubled financial institution, Bear Stearns, Epstein dramatically placed his hand around his own neck and pretended to choke himself. 'Oh no, I said, Why? Because that's the company I was a partner in, and, in fact, that was a company I had a very large investment in,' he explained.
Body Language Analysis Reveals Controlling Personality
Smug Demeanour and Superiority Complex
Body language expert Judi James analysed the footage for the Daily Mail, describing Epstein as displaying a 'smug, controlling and compulsive' personality who believed he was 'superior' to everyone around him. This included world leaders and Nobel Prize winners with whom he associated.
'His most dramatic tell is a "Joker" smile where his upper lip lifts and holds in a symmetric rictus that risks looking sinister,' James revealed. The expert noted Epstein frequently used power steeples with his fingertips touching, a classic dominance display.
Verbal and Physical Control Tactics
Throughout the interview, Epstein employed verbal control mechanisms, using phrases like 'Let's start,' 'Good question,' and 'I'll get to that later.' James observed that he even sighed when Bannon interjected with questions, displaying irritation at interruptions.
When asked directly whether anyone understood the financial system better than him, Epstein paused theatrically before arrogantly replying that no names came to mind. 'When the interview appears to be going out of his control, he raises both hands in a "crowd control" gesture,' James noted.
Interview Context and Revelations
The two-hour interview appears to have been filmed at Epstein's New York home on an unknown date before his death. Partway through the conversation, Epstein changed from a white shirt to a black one and donned different glasses, though the reason for this wardrobe change remains unclear.
Epstein attempted to downplay the seriousness of his 2008 conviction, opposing Bannon's characterisation of him as a 'class three sexual predator,' which indicates the most serious threat to public safety. 'Tier 1, I'm the lowest,' Epstein claimed, though he acknowledged being a criminal when pressed.
Sinister Exchanges and Evasive Answers
In one particularly chilling exchange, Bannon asked Epstein: 'Do you think you're the devil himself?' Epstein smiled and replied: 'No, but I do have a good mirror.' When asked again, he responded evasively: 'I don't know. Why would you say that?'
Bannon pressed further, stating: 'Because you have all the attributes.' The interview also touched on Epstein's business dealings, with Bannon suggesting he earned money 'by advising the worst people in the world that do enormous, bad things.' Epstein simply responded that 'ethics is always a complicated subject.'
Broader Context and Document Release
The footage was released among approximately three million documents about Epstein and government investigations into his activities. These documents have further illuminated Epstein's extensive connections to political and business leaders worldwide, including:
- Former US President Bill Clinton
- Microsoft founder Bill Gates
- Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor
- Sarah Ferguson
- Former UK Ambassador Lord Mandelson
Epstein died by suicide in a New York jail cell in August 2019 at age 66, just one month after being indicted on federal sex trafficking charges. The newly released interview footage provides disturbing insights into the personality of a man who manipulated and exploited vulnerable individuals while cultivating relationships with the global elite.
