A federal judge has unsealed a handwritten note purportedly written by Jeffrey Epstein before his death in prison. According to Reuters, U.S. District Judge Kenneth Karas released the document after a request from The New York Times, which reported its existence last week.
Key Takeaways
A federal judge unsealed a handwritten note purportedly written by Jeffrey Epstein before his death in prison. The note was found by his former cellmate, Nicholas Tartaglione.
- Federal judge releases note described as an alleged suicide letter from Jeffrey Epstein
- Note found by former cellmate Nicholas Tartaglione after Epstein's first suspected suicide attempt
- Judge ruled the note qualified as a judicial document subject to public access
- Note's authenticity and chain of custody remain unverified
The note was found by Epstein's former cellmate, Nicholas Tartaglione, a convicted murderer and ex-police officer serving four consecutive life sentences for drug-related murders. As reported by PBS, Tartaglione claimed he discovered the note in a book in their shared cell after Epstein was found with marks on his neck in what authorities described as an apparent suicide attempt.
The handwritten note, scrawled on a yellow legal pad, includes the line: "It is a treat to be able to choose one’s time to say goodbye." The judge ruled that the note qualified as a judicial document subject to the public's right of access because it was submitted in connection with Tartaglione's criminal case. However, Karas did not vouch for the note's authenticity nor assess its chain of custody.
According to The Guardian, The New York Times published a story last week detailing the note’s existence and petitioned the court to release it. The note had been sealed as part of Tartaglione’s appeal case due to attorney-client privilege. Epstein's death in federal custody has remained the subject of widespread scrutiny and speculation, with conspiracy theories persisting despite the medical examiner ruling his death a suicide.
The note reads: "They investigated me for months — FOUND NOTHING!!! 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 authenticity of the note has been questioned, with Epstein's brother telling Fox News that he does not believe it is legitimate.
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