US Justice Department Releases Report, Concluding Epstein’s Death as Suicide Despite Inexcusable Negligence and Mismanagement at Manhattan Jail

Simon Ateba( Chief White House Correspondent )

Simon Ateba is Chief White House Correspondent for Today News Africa covering President Joe Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris, U.S. government, UN, IMF, World Bank and other financial and international institutions in Washington and New York.

On Tuesday, the United States Justice Department’s inspector general released a report on the death of Jeffrey Epstein, concluding that he died by suicide in 2019 in his cell at the Metropolitan Correctional Center in Manhattan, despite significant negligence and mismanagement at the jail that seemed to suggest foul play.

The Justice Department concluded that the leadership and staff created an environment where Epstein had ample opportunity to take his own life.

Two supervisors were implicated for falsifying records and lying to investigators, although no charges were filed. The report also revealed that the staff allowed Epstein to hoard items despite previous suicide attempts, and they broke the rules by leaving him alone in his cell for a whole day. The findings supported the FBI’s conclusion that Epstein’s death was a suicide, despite some theories suggesting foul play.

Here are 10 takeaways from the report:

1. Jeffrey Epstein died by suicide in 2019 in his cell at the federal Metropolitan Correctional Center in Manhattan.
2. The Justice Department’s inspector general released a report highlighting negligence and mismanagement at the jail leading up to Epstein’s death.
3. The report found that the leadership and staff at the jail created an environment in which Epstein had the opportunity to kill himself.
4. Two supervisors at the facility were referred for criminal prosecution after falsifying records and lying to investigators, but charges were not brought by prosecutors.
5. While the inspector general identified significant misconduct and dereliction of duties by the jail’s staff, they did not find evidence contradicting the FBI’s conclusion that Epstein died by suicide.
6. The report revealed that despite previous suicide attempts, the staff allowed Epstein to hoard items such as blankets and clothing.
7. The staff violated a standing order meant to prevent self-harm by leaving Epstein alone in his cell for a full day after his cellmate left.
8. Epstein was awaiting trial on federal sex trafficking and conspiracy charges and could have faced up to 45 years in prison if convicted.
9. Conspiracy theories emerged following Epstein’s death, suggesting foul play due to potential secrets and connections to powerful individuals.
10. Attorney General William P. Barr acknowledged “serious irregularities” at the jail and attributed Epstein’s death to a combination of mistakes.