US Judge Orders Release of Jeffrey Epstein Suicide Note Claiming Investigation Found Nothing
A US judge has ordered the public release of a document presented as a suicide note written by convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, approximately a month before his death. The handwritten note, unsealed on Wednesday, refers to a months-long investigation that supposedly "found nothing" and includes the phrase, "it is a treat to be able to choose one's time to say goodbye."
Epstein's former cellmate, Nicholas Tartaglione, a former police officer convicted of quadruple murder, claimed he discovered the note tucked into a book after Epstein's initial suicide attempt in July 2019. Epstein was found dead in his cell a month later, a death officially ruled as suicide by authorities, while he awaited trial for sex-trafficking charges.
The purported note had been sealed as part of criminal proceedings against Tartaglione. A scan of the document shows handwritten sentences asserting, "They investigated me for month - FOUND NOTHING!!!" and mentioning years-old charges. Other lines include, "Watcha want me to do - Bust out cryin!!" and "NO FUN - NOT WORTH IT." The document consists of only seven lines, leaving its full meaning ambiguous.
The US Department of Justice (DOJ) has not commented directly on the note, though a spokesperson previously stated the department had not seen it, highlighting the DOJ's "exhaustive effort" in publicly releasing other Epstein-related files. Federal prosecutors had pushed for the note's release, arguing there was no compelling reason to keep it sealed, particularly given Tartaglione's public discussions of its contents.
In his order, Judge Kenneth M Karas concluded the note "is subject to the presumption of public access," stating that public access promotes "a measure of accountability" and fosters public confidence in the administration of justice. The judge also noted that Tartaglione's public statements constituted a waiver of attorney-client privilege regarding the document.
Security failures at the prison on the night of Epstein's death were identified in a federal report, contributing to ongoing speculation surrounding his demise.
