The claim that Patel deleted 2.7 terabytes of Epstein files from the FBI database is false because multiple reliable sources, including Snopes and PBS News, have found no evidence supporting this allegation and have debunked it as misinformation.
False
Reminder: Patel deleted 2.7 terabytes of Epstein Files from the FBI database.
WATCH: Sen. Kennedy presses FBI Director Patel to release the Epstein files - PBS News
Source: pbs.org
At a glance
Verified January 1, 2026Key Evidence
Snopes.com conducted a detailed fact-check and found no admission or proof of deletion by Patel.
PBS News coverage shows official pressure to release files but no indication of file destruction.
Multiple reputable news outlets report on file releases and disputes but do not corroborate any claim of mass deletion.
The reporting
What the Evidence Shows
The claim centers on FBI Director Kash Patel allegedly deleting a massive amount of data related to Jeffrey Epstein's files. However, a thorough review of recent credible sources reveals no factual basis for this assertion. Snopes.com explicitly fact-checked this claim in December 2025 and concluded it was false, clarifying that Patel never admitted to deleting any such files and that the claim is misleading misinformation circulating online.snopes.comsnopes.comDid Kash Patel admit to deleting 2.7 terabytes of Epstein files? Don't be fooled
PBS News reports on Senator John Kennedy pressing Patel to release Epstein-related files but does not mention any deletion or destruction of data by Patel.pbs.orgpbs.orgWATCH: Sen. Kennedy presses FBI Director Patel to release the Epstein files Other sources discuss the limited release of Epstein files, disputes over what information the FBI or the Epstein estate holds, and controversies about redactions or omissions, but none provide evidence that Patel deleted 2.7 terabytes of data.
newsweek.comnewsweek.comEpstein Files Update: Kash Patel Says Epstein Estate Refusing to Share Records...+2 more
Some sensationalized or fictionalized content exists on platforms like YouTube or tabloid outlets, but these do not constitute verified evidence.youtube.comyoutube.comBreaking Live: Kash Patel Under Fire After Trump Name Deleted From Epstein Files...
youtube.comyoutube.com8,047 Deleted Epstein Files Revealed — Patel & Bondi COLLAPSED Overall, the narrative of deletion appears to be a conspiracy theory without factual support.
Primary trail
Verified Sources10
Open source