New York City’s chief medical examiner is “confident” that Jeffrey Epstein’s death at a Manhattan jail was a suicide, The New York Times reports.
An autopsy was performed on Epstein’s body on Saturday after the convicted sex offender financier was found hanging in his cell Saturday while facing child sex trafficking charges.
Chief medical examiner Dr. Barbara Sampson released a statement saying that the cause of his death “is pending further information at this time.”
The Times reports that Sampson is “confident” Epstein died from a suicide but is waiting more information before releasing a final determination.
Epstein, 66, was not on suicide watch at the time of his death despite a reported suicide attempt weeks earlier.
It’s not unclear why Epstein was taken off suicide watch.
Bill Barr says “serious irregularities” led to Epstein’s death:
Attorney General Bill Barr on Monday called Epstein’s death a “failure” by federal prison officials.
“Let me assure you that this case will continue on against anyone who was complicit with Epstein,” Barr said. “Any co-conspirators should not rest easy. The victims deserve justice, and they will get it.”
Barr said at a law enforcement event in New Orleans that he was “appalled” and “frankly, angry” about the jail’s “failure to adequately secure” Epstein.
“We are now learning of serious irregularities at this facility that are deeply concerning and demand a thorough investigation,” he said.
The Justice Department inspector general and the FBI are investigating the death.
According to The Washington Post, Epstein’s cellmate was transferred on Friday, leaving Epstein “alone and unmonitored” by “even those officers assigned to guard him.”
The two corrections officers working the unit where Epstein was held were working heavy overtime.
“If it wasn’t Mr. Epstein, it would have been somebody else, because of the conditions at that institution,” Serene Gregg, the president of a government employees union that represents prison workers, told The Times. “It wasn’t a matter of how it happened or it happening, but it was only a matter of time for it to happen. It was inevitable. Our staff is severely overworked.”
Trump pushes Clinton conspiracy behind Epstein death:
Conspiracy theories swirled after the death of the well-connected billionaire who was friends with former President Bill Clinton, including one pushed by President Donald Trump, himself a longtime former friend of Epstein.
Trump retweeted a post by comedian Terrence K. Williams alleging that the Clintons were behind Epstein’s death after the hashtag “TrumpBodyCount” trended on Twitter as a result of those on the left claiming this was a right-wing conspiracy.
“Died of SUICIDE on 24/7 SUICIDE WATCH ? Yeah right! How does that happen#JefferyEpstein had information on Bill Clinton & now he’s dead,” Williams wrote. “I see #TrumpBodyCount trending but we know who did this! RT if you’re not Surprised#EpsteinSuicide #ClintonBodyCount #ClintonCrimeFamily.”
Clinton body count refers to a decades-old debunked conspiracy theory not unlike the similarly debunked Seth Rich conspiracy theory.
Florida Sen. Marco Rubio warned against spreading baseless conspiracy theories before any facts had emerged.
"Scrutiny of how #Epstein was able to commit suicide is warranted," Rubio tweeted. "But the immediate rush to spread conspiracy theories about someone on the 'other side' of partisan divide having him killed illustrates why our society is so vulnerable to foreign disinformation & influence efforts."
