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By Anna Commander
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A cellmate of Jeffrey Epstein told The New York Times that he found a supposed suicide note, allegedly placed inside a book in Epstein's cell in July 2019, the month before the sex offender was found dead in his jail cell.
“I opened the book to read and there it was,” Nicholas Tartaglione said. He added that the note said investigators had looked into the disgraced financier and “found nothing,” and continued along the lines of “What do you want me to do, bust out crying? Time to say goodbye.”
In an email to Newsweek on Thursday, a Department of Justice (DOJ) spokesperson said, "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.”
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Citing documents and interviews, the Times reports that the note—described by Tartaglione as including it was “time to say goodbye”—was sealed as part of Tartaglione’s criminal case, meaning investigators reviewing Epstein’s death reportedly did not have access to it.
The news outlet also says it has petitioned a federal judge to unseal the purported suicide note.
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Why It Matters
The existence and contents of any note could potentially shed light on Epstein’s mindset leading up his death, a period that has fueled years of public scrutiny and competing narratives about how and why he died.
The Times said a two-page chronology in the Epstein files indicates Tartaglione’s attorneys authenticated the letter, though it does not explain how and notes previous concerns surrounding authenticity.
When Did Jeffrey Epstein Die?
Epstein died on August 10, 2019, from an apparent suicide in his New York City jail cell. He was awaiting trial on federal sex trafficking charges at the time of his death.
Epstein was held at the Metropolitan Correctional Center in Manhattan.
Who Is Nicholas Tartaglione?
Tartaglione—a former police officer for the New York City suburb of Briarcliff Manor, New York—in 2023 was convicted on 17 counts: 11 for murder, four for kidnapping resulting in death and one apiece for kidnapping conspiracy and narcotics conspiracy—and is serving four consecutive life sentences, NBC News reported.
He is pursuing an appeal as he maintains his innocence, the Times notes.
After finding the purported suicide note, Tartaglione reportedly gave it to his lawyers because it could prove helpful if Epstein had continued to assert that Tartaglione attempted to hurt him in the cell, the Times reports.
In late July 2019, Epstein was found injured in his jail cell. He reportedly told jail officials that Tartaglione attacked him and that he was not suicidal, per the Times. Tartaglione said he discovered the note after this incident.
If you or someone you know is considering suicide, please contact the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline by dialing 988, text "988" to the Crisis Text Line at 741741 or go to 988lifeline.org.
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