While not authenticated, the note is dated July 23, 2019 – less than two weeks before he actually died by alleged suicide. That day, he was found semiconscious with an orange cloth around his neck and signs of attempted hanging, according to a Justice Department Inspector General report cited by NBC News.
In the note, Epstein appeared to claim investigators ‘found nothing’ and references being accused of involving a 16-year-old. It included emotional, unclear writing about choosing when to say goodbye. Epstein later died in custody on August 10, which has been officially ruled a suicide by officials.
“It is a treat to be able to choose one’s time to say goodbye. Watcha want me to do – Bust out cryin!! NO FUN, NOT WORTH IT!!” the note read.
Following the July incident,
Epstein was reportedly found in his jail cell by his cellmate, Nicholas Tartaglione, a former NYPD officer. According to NBC, he initially said that he was attacked by Tartaglione but later told investigators he was unsure what happened.
Earlier, a Justice Department spokesperson told NBC that they had not reviewed the note and had already released millions of pages of records related to Epstein.
“It is difficult to comment on something neither The New York Times, nor we, have seen. The Department underwent an exhaustive effort to collect all records in its possession responsive to the Act. This included collecting records from the Bureau of Prisons and Office of Inspector General. As a result of these efforts, nearly 3 million pages have been produced,” the official said.
Epstein was arrested just weeks before the incident on sex-trafficking charges involving alleged abuse of girls as young as 14. Despite being placed on suicide watch after the July 23 incident, Epstein denied being suicidal.
His death in August due to “suicide” was the result of what investigators concluded in 2023 as a cascade of misconduct, negligence and errors by staff at the Metropolitan Correctional Center, NBC report added.
