A bombshell report released by Inspector General Michael Horowitz reveals that a “combination of negligence and misconduct” by guards at the Metropolitan Correctional Center allowed Jeffrey Epstein to commit suicide while in custody awaiting trial.
The findings point to various failures on the part of the federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) that contributed to Epstein’s death. It highlights the failure to assign Epstein a new cellmate after his previous one left and the lack of attention given to technical issues with the facility’s surveillance system.
In addition, Epstein had access to an excessive number of bed sheets, which were ultimately used in his hanging.
The report also debunked the rumors and conspiracy theories suggesting foul play or the involvement of influential individuals in Epstein’s death. It also disproved the notion that Epstein was intentionally killed by powerful figures connected to his alleged criminal activities.
Epstein’s death in August 2019 led to Democrats, wealthy liberal philanthropists, and universities distancing themselves from him despite having accepted his financial contributions in the past. He was facing charges related to human trafficking and soliciting children for sex.
The OIG report identifies significant job performance and management failures within the BOP, along with a widespread disregard for policies designed to ensure inmate safety and well-being.
It also exposes deficiencies in the facility’s surveillance camera system, which had previously malfunctioned.
Moreover, the report reveals that Epstein was allowed to make an unmonitored phone call in violation of BOP policy, contacting a woman instead of his claimed intention to speak with his mother.
On the night of Epstein’s death, the guards failed to conduct proper inmate head counts or regular rounds until the following morning when they discovered him hanging in his cell. His cellmate had been transferred out the previous evening, leaving Epstein alone and unmonitored overnight.
After Epstein’s death, media outlets scrambled to uncover documents and camera footage that might shed light on the events preceding his suicide. There were reports that the New York Police Department accidentally deleted 911 calls related to Epstein’s death, attributing it to human error.
Epstein had a previous encounter with the law, having struck a plea deal over a decade ago that spared him significant prison time in exchange for admitting to soliciting underage girls. He went on to advise the U.S. Virgin Islands government on updating its sex offender laws, enabling him to freely travel to and from his compound where many of his alleged crimes took place.
