Judge Orders Release of Epstein's Alleged Suicide Note in New York

A federal judge in New York has ordered the release of an alleged suicide note from Jeffrey Epstein, found in his jail cell in July 2019. This note was unsealed on Wednesday, May 1st, 2024.
By Newsroom | Legal, New York |

A federal judge has unsealed an alleged suicide note attributed to Jeffrey Epstein, allowing public access to the document. The note, purportedly found by Epstein's cellmate Nicholas Tartaglione after Epstein was discovered semi-conscious in his jail cell in July 2019, has been a subject of legal proceedings for years. U.S. District Judge Kenneth Karas ordered its release on Wednesday, finding no sufficient grounds to maintain its sealed status.

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The unsealed document, a one-page handwritten note on a yellow legal pad, contains phrases such as "They investigated me for months — FOUND NOTHING!!!" and "NO FUN. NOT WORTH IT!!"

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The Justice Department has stated it had not seen the note as recently as last week, and its authenticity remains unconfirmed by the department. The note was previously sealed as part of Tartaglione's appeal case, where he was a former police officer convicted of multiple murders. Tartaglione's former attorney indicated the note was presented as a potential defense against future assault allegations.

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The cryptic message, undated and unsigned, includes reflections like "It is a treat to be able to choose one’s time to say goodbye" and "Watcha want me to do — Bust out cryin!!". Epstein's death, ruled a suicide by hanging, occurred in August 2019 at the Metropolitan Correctional Center in Lower Manhattan, weeks after the July incident where he was found semi-conscious. At that time, Epstein reportedly denied suicidal ideations, stating he had "no interest in killing myself" to a psychologist.

The New York Times had petitioned the court for the note's release, a move that led to the order by Judge Karas. Despite a general push for transparency by the Justice Department, including the release of millions of pages related to the Epstein case, this particular document remained sealed until now. The circumstances surrounding the note's discovery and its potential significance in Tartaglione's legal defense add layers of complexity to its public unveiling.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Why did a judge order the release of Jeffrey Epstein's alleged suicide note?
U.S. District Judge Kenneth Karas ordered the note's release on Wednesday, May 1st, 2024, stating there were no sufficient reasons to keep it sealed. The New York Times had asked for the document to be made public.
Q: When and where was the alleged suicide note found?
The one-page handwritten note was reportedly found by Epstein's cellmate, Nicholas Tartaglione, after Epstein was found semi-conscious in his jail cell in July 2019. Epstein died in August 2019.
Q: What does Jeffrey Epstein's alleged suicide note say?
The note, which is undated and unsigned, contains phrases like "They investigated me for months — FOUND NOTHING!!!" and "NO FUN. NOT WORTH IT!!". It also includes reflections on choosing when to say goodbye.
Q: Is the authenticity of the note confirmed?
The Justice Department has stated it had not seen the note recently and its authenticity has not been confirmed by the department. It was previously sealed as part of Nicholas Tartaglione's appeal case.