Attorney General William Barr said investigators have discovered "serious irregularities" at the federal jail in New York where accused child sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein committed suicide over the weekend.
While speaking at a national policing conference in New Orleans on Monday, the attorney general said he was "appalled" by Epstein's death and "angry" to learn of the Manhattan's Metropolitan Correctional Center's "failure to adequately secure this prisoner." Barr vowed to continue investigating the financier's alleged crimes and warned those who may have been complicit that Epstein's suicide has not halted the case.
“Let me assure you that this case will continue on against anyone who was complicit with Epstein. Any co-conspirators should not rest easy,” Barr said. “The victims deserve justice and they will get it.”
Epstein hanged himself and his body was found in his jail cell on Saturday morning by the two guards in the protective housing unit. The wealthy financier was awaiting trial on charges of conspiracy and sex trafficking after Manhattan federal prosecutors unsealed a criminal indictment against him, accusing him of sex trafficking minors at his New York estate, years after similar charges against him in Palm Beach ended with a reprehensible plea deal.
Epstein was taken off of suicide watch just two weeks before his death, after he attempted to take his own life three weeks prior. Per the jail's procedures, his possible suicide attempt meant he was to be housed with another inmate, although his cellmate had recently been transferred. Additionally, he was meant to be checked on by guards every 30 minutes, although that procedure was not followed the night of his death. According to sources who spoke to TMZ, Epstein was the target of death threats from fellow inmates.
On Saturday, Barr announced that the FBI and the Justice Department's Inspector General would launch a probe into Epstein's suicide, given the violation of the jail's procedures have prompted speculation surrounding his death.
