A cache of recently declassified materials released by the U.S. Department of Justice has brought the public face-to-face with the unsettling psyche of the late Jeffrey Epstein. Among the mountains of evidence is a previously unseen, two-hour video interview that provides a rare, visceral glimpse into how the convicted sex offender viewed his own morality and his place in the world.
The footage, reportedly filmed at Epstein’s New York townhouse following his 2008 conviction, features an aggressive interrogation by Steve Bannon, the former advisor to President Donald Trump. One specific exchange has since ignited a firestorm of disbelief across social media: the moment Epstein was asked if he considered himself to be “the devil.”
A “Good Mirror” and the Anatomy of Evil
The interview is part of a massive transparency initiative following the unanimous passage of the Epstein Files Transparency Act, signed into law by President Trump in November 2025. The document dump includes over 2,000 videos and 180,000 images, but it is this verbal sparring match that has captivated investigators.
When Bannon asked the blunt question—”Do you think you’re the devil himself?”—Epstein’s reaction was disturbingly nonchalant.
“No, but I do have a good mirror,” Epstein replied, punctuated by a smirk.
As Bannon pressed the issue, suggesting that Epstein possessed the devil’s classic attributes of intelligence, manipulation, and total control, Epstein’s composure briefly faltered. He scratched his head, visibly uneasy, and asked, “I don’t know. Why would you say that?” Before the topic closed, Epstein offered a final, cryptic pushback: “No, the devil scares me.”
The Semantic Defense: “I’m the Lowest”
Throughout the conversation, Epstein appeared to engage in a calculated effort to minimize the gravity of his 2008 conviction for soliciting prostitution from a minor. Despite the court-mandated requirement that he register as a sex offender, Epstein took issue with Bannon’s characterization of his status.
When Bannon labeled him a “class three sexual predator,” Epstein interjected with a semantic correction that critics describe as a masterclass in deflection.
“No, I’m the lowest,” Epstein claimed, referring to the tier of his registration.
“But a criminal,” Bannon countered.
“Yes,” Epstein conceded.
Moral Relativism and “Dirty Money”
The interview took an even more cynical turn when the discussion shifted to the source of Epstein’s vast wealth. Bannon confronted him with allegations that his fortune was “dirty,” built on the back of advising “the worst people in the world.”
Epstein’s defense relied on a complex web of moral relativism. “Ethics is always a complicated subject,” he insisted, arguing that the ends often justify the means. To illustrate his point, he suggested that his contributions to global causes, such as polio eradication, absolved the source of his funds. He went as far as to claim that any parent would accept “dirty money” if it meant saving their child’s life—a justification that investigators say highlights his total moral blindness.
The Shadow of 2019 and the Push for Truth
Epstein’s story ended abruptly in August 2019, when he died by suicide in a federal jail cell while awaiting trial on new sex trafficking charges. For years, the full extent of his interviews and personal records remained shielded from the public.
The 2025 Transparency Act has changed that, and for the families of his victims, this footage serves as a grim confirmation of the arrogance that allowed his network to flourish for decades. While the legal proceedings against his associates continue, the public is left with the haunting image of a man who looked into a “good mirror” and saw something he refused to define as evil.
