A US federal judge has ordered the release of a document believed to be a suicide note written by convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein shortly before his death in prison in 2019.
The handwritten note, made public on Wednesday, reportedly states that a months-long investigation into Epstein “found nothing” and includes a line saying it was “a treat to be able to choose one’s time to say goodbye.”
The document surfaced during court proceedings involving Nicholas Tartaglione, Epstein’s former cellmate and a former police officer later convicted of four murders. Tartaglione claimed he discovered the note hidden inside a book after Epstein allegedly attempted suicide in July 2019, about a month before he was found dead in his jail cell while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges.
US authorities have not officially confirmed the authenticity of the note, and the BBC said it has not independently verified whether Epstein wrote it.
The seven-line note contains several emotional and cryptic statements, including references to old legal cases and frustration over investigations. One line reportedly reads: “Watcha want me to do – Bust out cryin!! NO FUN – NOT WORTH IT.”
The document had remained sealed for years as part of legal proceedings linked to Tartaglione. However, prosecutors and media organizations, including The New York Times, argued there was no longer a valid reason to keep it confidential.
Judge Kenneth Karas ruled that the note should be released to the public, stating that transparency would help maintain confidence in the justice system. He also noted that Tartaglione’s repeated public comments about the document effectively removed attorney-client confidentiality protections.
The US Department of Justice has not yet commented on the contents of the note. Previous statements from the department emphasized that millions of pages related to Epstein’s case had already been reviewed and released publicly.
Jeffrey Epstein’s death in a New York jail in August 2019 was officially ruled a suicide. However, the circumstances surrounding his death have continued to fuel public speculation for years, especially after reports identified major security failures at the prison on the night he died.
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