Jeffrey Epstein, the wealthy financier and sex offender, died early Saturday morning, a spokesperson for the Office of the Medical Examiner in New York City confirmed to NPR.
Multiple reports state that Epstein died from an apparent suicide inside a Manhattan jail cell. The Federal Bureau of Prisons confirmed Saturday that the FBI is investigating.
Attorney General Bill Barr said Saturday that he is “appalled” by Jeffrey Epstein’s death, and has consulted with the Inspector General about an investigation after Epstein hanged himself and was found in his jail cell early on Saturday.
“I was appalled to learn that Jeffrey Epstein was found dead early this morning from an apparent suicide while in federal custody,” Barr said.
“Mr. Epstein’s death raises serious questions that must be answered. In addition to the FBI’s investigation, I have consulted with the Inspector General who is opening an investigation into the circumstances of Mr. Epstein’s death.”4
Sen. Ben Sasse (R-Neb.) wrote in a letter to Barr:
“Every single person in the Justice Department — from your Main Justice headquarters staff all the way to the night-shift jailer — knew that this man was a suicide risk, and that his dark secrets couldn’t be allowed to die with him. Given Epstein’s previous attempted suicide, he should have been locked in a padded room under unbroken, 24/7, constant surveillance. Obviously, heads must roll.”5
Multiple media reports quote unnamed officials who say the financier apparently hung himself. It is unclear if he was still on suicide watch.
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Sources said Epstein, 66, hanged himself in his cell in the Manhattan Correctional Center. FDNY officials said a call came in at 6:38 a.m.
According to the New York Post, paramedics wheeled a gurney carrying Epstein, still in his orange prison uniform, into New York Downtown Hospital around 7:30 a.m. His eyes were closed, and the EMTs were using a breathing apparatus in what appeared to be an attempt to revive him, exclusive photos by the Post show.2
Epstein was reportedly on suicide watch two weeks ago after he was found by prison officials nearly unconscious in his cell with injuries to his neck.
His death comes one day after a federal appellate court in New York unsealed a huge cache of court documents – around 2,000 pages – from a now-settled civil defamation case between Virginia Roberts Giuffre, an alleged Epstein victim, and British socialite Ghislaine Maxwell, a longtime Epstein associate.
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Epstein’s death is likely to raise questions about how the Bureau of Prisons ensures the welfare of high-profile inmates. In October, Boston gangster James “Whitey” Bulger was killed in a federal prison in West Virginia where he had just been transferred.
Epstein, 66, was charged with sex trafficking of minors in July and was being held without bail.
This is a developing story. Some things that get reported by the media will later turn out to be wrong. We will focus on reports from police officials and other authorities, credible news outlets and reporters who are at the scene. We will update as the situation develops.
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