Unsealed Jeffrey Epstein Suicide Note Defies Federal Investigators

A federal judge unsealed a purported suicide note from Jeffrey Epstein on Wednesday, making the document public for the first time since it was discovered nearly seven years ago. The release of the record comes after the Justice Department confirmed it has released millions of documents related to the late convicted sex offender.

The document was placed on the court docket in the case of a former cellmate of Epstein who claimed to have found the note following Epstein's unsuccessful suicide attempt in July 2019, just weeks before his death in a Manhattan jail cell.

Cryptic Defiance Found in a Jailhouse Book

The unsigned and undated note offers a brief, defiant glimpse into Epstein's state of mind while he was awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges. The text reads, in part:

“They investigated me for month – found NOTHING!!!

“It is a treat to be able to chose ones time to say goodbye.”

“NO FUN – NOT WORTH IT!!”

The note was reportedly discovered by Nicholas Tartaglione, a former police officer and convicted murderer who shared a cell with Epstein. Tartaglione claimed he found the note tucked inside a book after he had revived Epstein during the initial July attempt. While Tartaglione asserted that handwriting experts had previously authenticated the note, the Justice Department has not confirmed its legitimacy, stating it has no knowledge regarding the accuracy of the narrative surrounding the document.

Controversy and Transparency After Seven Years

The existence of the note remained hidden from the public until last week, when The New York Times reported on its concealment and petitioned District Judge Kenneth Karas to unseal it. The Justice Department did not oppose the motion, acknowledging a "strong public interest" in the circumstances of Epstein’s death.

The unsealing adds another layer to the long-standing questions surrounding Epstein's first reported suicide attempt. At the time, jail officials were uncertain if his injuries—which included marks on his neck—were self-inflicted or the result of an assault. While Epstein initially accused Tartaglione of an attack, he later recanted, telling a prison psychologist he had no interest in killing himself and was "too vested" in his legal battle to end his life.

Despite those claims, Epstein was placed on suicide watch and later died by suicide in August 2019. While the event has been a magnet for conspiracy theories, a Department of Justice memo released last year stated there is no evidence of murder, supported by 10 hours of jailhouse security footage showing no unauthorized entry into his cell on the day of his death.

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