Well, we can report at least *some* progress in the investigation of the death of Jeffrey Epstein.
For the small percentage of the general public who believe the convicted pedophile did not commit suicide (estimated to be somewhere in the 98 to 100 range), this will not seem like much. But it’s something.
Epstein, who had previously been in trouble for similar accusations but was given a sweetheart deal pleading guilty to just soliciting sex with a 14-year-old (*shudder*), was in prison awaiting trial on new sex trafficking charges when he was found in his cell, apparently having hanged himself.
Related: How Epstein’s Plea Deal Brought Down Trump’s Labor Secretary
The coroner ruled the death a suicide, but many have taken issue with that assessment, including a forensic pathologist hired by Epstein’s brother to investigate.
The main issues for most people are twofold:
First, there’s the high value Epstein had as a witness. If he decided to cooperate with the state, he could have potentially implicated any number of powerful men. We mean, he wasn’t accused of running a sex trafficking ring just for himself. Among his known associates are several businessmen, a member of the Royal family, and not one but TWO US presidents. Yeah, it’s that big.
Second, there are the suspicious circumstances surrounding his death, and it’s on that front we have multiple developments today.
Epstein was still in the Special Housing Unit of the Metropolitan Correctional Center following a previous reported suicide attempt and was supposed to be monitored closely by guards. But it turns out he wasn’t. And now heads are starting to roll over it.
First up? The guards.
Tova Noel, 31, and Michael Thomas, 41, were charged on Tuesday morning. Per the indictment, the guards “repeatedly failed to perform mandated counts of prisoners under their watch”:
“Instead, for substantial portions of their shift, Noel and Thomas sat at their desk, browsed the internet and moved around the common area of the SHU.”
Oof.
Apparently Noel and Thomas were working overtime at the time of Epstein’s death. Per the indictment, they failed to check in on Epstein multiple times on the night of August 9 through morning of August 10. Instead they found him when delivering his breakfast at about 6:30 a.m. on the 10th.
It’s unclear when they had last checked on him before that.
As usual, the coverup is worse than the crime. While being derelict in their important duties may have been deplorable, the crime they’re accused of is lying about it.
Related: Why Did ABC News Kill Their Epstein Story Years Ago?
Each has been charged with one count of conspiracy and three counts of filing false reports — one for each check they were supposed to do, at midnight, at 3 a.m., and at 5 a.m. on August 10. Noel is also facing two additional counts of filing false reports related to checks on August 9. Each charge brings with it a maximum penalty of five years.
That’s a lot of time on the other side of the bars! Will the guards spill any more info on what happened that night for a reduction in sentence? Don’t put any money on it.
According to an AP report last week, the guards were offered plea deals before being officially charged; both declined.
But the investigation isn’t over! Far from it.
Video: Prince Andrew’s Disastrous Interview About Epstein Accusations
Dr. Kathleen Hawk Sawyer, the head of the Federal Bureau of Prisons, testified before the Senate Judiciary Committee on Tuesday morning and was asked about Epstein’s death.
The Bureau veteran was appointed to her position in late August by Attorney General William Barr. She replaced Hugh Hurwitz, who was reassigned in the wake of Epstein’s death.
Senator Lindsey Graham took time off from being derelict in his own duties (re: impeachment hearings) to ask Dr. Hawk Sawyer about the investigation, boldly positing:
“With a case this high-profile, there’s got to be major malfunction in the system or a criminal enterprise afoot to allow this to happen. So are you looking at both? Is the FBI looking at both?”
The answer?
“If the FBI is involved, then they are looking at criminal enterprise, yes.”
Wow. That does not get more real! They aren’t just assuming a poor system in which overworked, apathetic guards are not held accountable for slacking off — they’re really looking at deeper criminality here!
BTW, Senator Graham also asked about the suicide ruling in the following exchange:
GRAHAM: “Do you concur with the opinion that it was a suicide?”
HAWK SAWYER: “That was the finding of the coroner, sir.”
GRAHAM: “Do you have any evidence to suggest otherwise?”
HAWK SAWYER: “I do not.”
Well, that’s to be expected we suppose. With no guards watching and the cameras pointed away, there doesn’t seem to be any evidence apart from the injuries to the body. (Though, as we said, the conclusion of suicide is in dispute.)
You can watch that full testimony (below):
What do YOU think this investigation will unearth??
[Image via New York State Sex Offender Registry.]
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