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THE death of convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein was a result of “pure negligence and misconduct” by the federal prison system, the Justice Department has revealed.
Epstein, 66, was found dead in his prison cell in New York City’s Metropolitan Correctional Center on August 10, 2019, while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges.
The Justice Department’s report determined that the disgraced financier hanged himself in his cell.
DOJ Inspector General Michael Horowitz said that correctional officers left Epstein in his cell with too many bed linens, a security issue that led to his suicide.
When prison guards found Epstein in his cell on August 10, 2019, Officer Michael Thomas, who was criminally charged in the case, said: “Breathe, Epstein, breathe,” according to the DOJ report.
When Thomas saw Epstein dangling from the bed, he said: “We’re going to be in a lot of trouble,” the report states.
Read more on Jeffrey Epstein
The Justice Department’s report said that a cascade of errors made by prison employees, including failure to conduct rounds and cell searches to check on Epstein, allowing access to extra bed linen, and failing to assign a new cellmate after he was placed on suicide watch, allowed Epstein time to take his life.
Epstein’s death occurred just over two weeks after he was found in his cell with bruisings around his neck in a possible suicide attempt on July 23, 2019.
Epstein’s cellmate at the time told officers that the disgraced financier tried to hang himself.
He was placed on suicide watch for 31 hours after his first suicide attempt.
Inspector General Horowitz’s report found that the facility’s security camera system was neglected, and the prison had severe understaffing and structural issues.
Thirteen prison employees had poor performance reviews, according to the DOJ’s report.
Inspector General Horowitz recommended charges against six workers.
Only the two correctional officers tasked with guarding Epstein on the night of his death were criminally charged.
Officers Thomas and Tova Noel avoided jail time in a plea deal with prosecutors after admitting to falsifying logs.
The inspector general’s report comes nearly four years after Epstein’s death.
The Bureau of Prisons announced the closing of the Metropolitan Correctional Center in August 2021, citing the need to improve conditions in the facility.
However, the facility remains closed.
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