Feb 24, 2026, 6:56 p.mFeb 24, 2026, 6:56 p.m
In 2005, authorities searched the property of sex offender Jeffrey Epstein for the first time. The then chief of the Palm Beach Police Department, Michael Reiter, said in dismay: “The place had been cleaned beforehand.”
Although the investigators were able to secure incriminating material, the computer with the recordings from all of the property’s surveillance cameras had been taken away before the police arrived. Apparently in a hurry – the cables for it were left behind.
With his statement, Reiter suggests that Epstein had been warned in advance. Epstein’s defense team, a consortium of star lawyers, also repeatedly stood out for knowing details about the investigation before it became public knowledge. Reiter explained in one that he had never experienced anything comparable in his entire career Interview with NBC. Today’s pensioner is even clearer in his choice of words. He called the Epstein investigation “the worst tragedy of the criminal justice system in modern times.” Frustrated by the events, he gave up and left the investigation to the FBI.
Epstein’s Palm Beach residence.Image: keystone
A new investigation by the “Telegraph” (paywall) There is now evidence that Jeffrey Epstein was actually warned about the house search, why the investigation was so difficult at the time – and suggests that further incriminating material could be present. This could be located in various rented storage spaces in the USA.
The Telegraph has put together a puzzle from various emails and credit card statements from the Epstein files that proves that Jeffrey Epstein rented at least six storage rooms near his residences starting in 2003. Some of the payments for this were made until 2019, until Epstein’s death. Explosive: The Telegraph also checked the FBI’s search warrants. These do not provide the slightest indication that the authorities ever searched any of the storage rooms and/or confiscated the contents. The FBI has not yet responded to a request from the team of journalists.
Epstein’s Zorro Ranch in New Mexico. Epstein also rented storage space near this property. When the FBI investigated the Zorro Ranch, they found various empty basement rooms.Image: keystone
There are also new clues to the question of who removed the computer from the Palm Beach residence before the first raid. Until now was known: Epstein’s assistant Adriana Ross, a model from Poland, had recently appeared in Palm Beach accompanied by a man and removed three computers from Epstein’s villa. The identity of the male companion was not yet known. There is growing evidence that this is an ex-police officer hired by Epstein.
The pedophile criminal had commissioned the Riley Kiraly detective agency to remove material from his villas. This emerges from an email exchange in which the person involved, Bill Riley, asks an Epstein advisor, attorney Robert “Bob” D. Critton, what he should do with the goods that he “took from Jeff’s house before the search warrant.”
According to the Telegraph, the plaintiff mentioned in the email (plaintiff), who demanded the release of the computers, is the late Virginia Giuffre.
Both William “Bill” Riley and Steve Kiraly are ex-cops. This is nothing unusual in the detective business. Given the fact that Jeffrey Epstein and his defense team obviously received information from investigative circles, the two’s former profession takes on a certain explosiveness. It’s safe to assume that both Riley and Kiraly were connected in Palm Beach police circles. One thing is certain: the detectives were paid handsomely for their work. From January to May 2010, Epstein transferred $38,500 to the agency.
According to the email, the hard drives taken away by Epstein were cloned by a certain Dave Kleiman. The computer expert died in 2013. The official cause of death was an infection with MRSA bacteria. However, Kleiman only achieved greater fame later. Gizmodo suspected him in 2015being the legendary inventor of Bitcoin, Satoshi Nakamoto.
Due to confidentiality clauses, neither the storage landlord, the detective agency nor the FBI commented on the research. According to his own statements, Jeffrey Epstein’s brother knew nothing about the rented storage space. What happened to the content is still unclear today.
According to the Telegraph, in addition to the computers from the Palm Beach resort, a minimum of devices from Epstein’s private island Little Saint James were also removed.
Some of the affected storage providers claim they did not know that Jeffrey Epstein was their customer. So does Manhattan Mini Storage. In 2023, the company advertised its services with the slogan: “Safe, Secure, Protected, With Minimal Charges, Just Like Prince Andrew.”
Image: Department of Justice
When frustrated police chief Michael Reiter left the Epstein investigation to the FBI, he had hoped to bring new momentum to the Epstein case. He quickly discovered that he was wrong.
At the FBI, a certain Alexander Acosta took over the investigation. Despite strong evidence, he did not bring Epstein to trial, but instead signed a settlement that gave Epstein and other suspects immunity from further prosecution.
Nine years later, Donald Trump promoted Alexander Acosta to United States Secretary of Labor.
Democratic MPs accuse Trump of lying after viewing unredacted Epstein files
Video: Watson/Lucas Zollinger