Photo: Rick Friedman/Getty Images
Jeffrey Epstein’s death has been ruled a suicide.
The billionaire financier was discovered in cardiac arrest nearly a month after he wasarrested for allegedly sex-trafficking girlsas young as 14, and died in the hospital,CNNreported at the time.
Epstein’s lawyers, Martin G. Weinberg, Reid Weingarten and Michael Miller, said that his defense team intends to conduct their own investigation into their client’s death.
“First, no one should die in jail,” they said in a joint statement, according toNew York Timesreporter Michael Gold, who shared theirstatementon Twitter.
“And no one, not Mr. Epstein who was presumed innocent and had violated no prison disciplinary rule, and not anyone should be imprisoned under the harsh, even medieval conditions at the MCC where Mr. Epstein spent his final hours,” the statement continued. “His safety was the responsibility of the MCC. It is indisputable that the authorities violated their own protocols.”
Jeffrey Epstein.Uncredited/AP/Shutterstock
“The defense team fully intends to conduct its own independent and complete investigation into the circumstances and cause of Mr. Epstein’s death including if necessary legal action to view the pivotal videos — if they exist as they should — of the area proximate to Mr. Epstein’s cell during the time period leading to his death.”
“We are not satisfied with the conclusions of the medical examiner,” the statement concluded. “We will have a more complete response in the coming days.”
At the time of Epstein’s death, Attorney General William P. Barr said that he was “appalled” to learn of Epstein’s death while in federal custody, adding that his death “raises serious questions that must be answered.”
Others, including New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio, echoed Barr’s sentiment.
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De Blasio told theNew York Timesthat Epstein’s death seemed “too convenient,” and that he didn’t understand how he could have been left unsupervised long enough to end his life.
“It’s too many pieces happening simultaneously that don’t fit,” de Blasio said. “It’s just not a believable situation that there wouldn’t be an intense and careful effort to watch him.”
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“A lot of times, folks fall into conspiracy theories that instantly fall apart and sound extreme,” the mayor added. “But in this case, the facts themselves don’t make sense on their face.”
Two weeks before Epstein died, he was found lying in the fetal position in his cell, with marks on his neck,NBC 4reported at the time. The local outlet said that Epstein was semi-conscious when found, andRadar Onlinereported that the medical emergency was a result of a suicide attempt.
Jeffrey Epstein.Rick Friedman/Getty Images
Epstein’s lawyers had planned to appeal that ruling, according to NBC4.
Epstein allegedly “sexually exploited and abused dozens of minor girls at his homes,” according to thefederal indictment, which was unsealed on July 8, and was charged with one count of sex-trafficking of minors and one count of conspiracy to engage in sex-trafficking of minors. If he had been convicted, he faced a maximum sentence of 45 years in prison.
If you or someone you know is considering suicide, please contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255), text “home” to the Crisis Text Line at 741-741 or go to suicidepreventionlifeline.org.
source: people.com
