A federal judge has released a document purportedly containing a suicide note from convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, according to multiple reports. The note, which had remained under seal for years, emerged Wednesday in the criminal case of Epstein’s former cellmate, Nicholas Tartaglione.
The New York Times reported that the note begins with Epstein’s emphatic declaration: “They investigated me for months — FOUND NOTHING!!!” It goes on to say that the probe only turned up charges from years earlier.
The note also includes a defiant, almost taunting tone: “It is a treat to be able to choose one’s time to say goodbye. Watcha want me to do — Bust out cryin!! NO FUN — NOT WORTH IT!!”
Epstein killed himself in August 2019 while awaiting trial on federal sex trafficking charges. The circumstances of his death have fueled persistent speculation and conspiracy theories, particularly as the Trump administration has faced scrutiny over its handling of Epstein-related files. House Democrats recently accused Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick of lying in closed-door testimony about Epstein, adding to the political heat.
The note was discovered by Tartaglione, a former police officer convicted of murder, who said he found it in July 2019. The Times had petitioned the court to unseal the document, arguing it “could provide insights into his state of mind” in the period leading up to his death.
Last Thursday, the newspaper formally urged a New York courthouse to release the note, which the judge in Tartaglione’s case had kept sealed. The unsealing comes amid broader controversy over Epstein’s connections to powerful figures. House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer has accused Lutnick of misleading lawmakers about a visit to Epstein’s island, and the Commerce Secretary faces a grilling over contradictory claims about his interactions with the disgraced financier.
The release of the note is unlikely to settle the many questions surrounding Epstein’s death. Critics have long called for a full airing of evidence, including any communications from Epstein before his suicide. The note’s angry, dismissive tone may deepen the mystery rather than resolve it.
This development also touches on broader issues of judicial transparency and the handling of high-profile cases. The Trump administration’s recent purge of immigration judges has raised concerns about judicial independence, though the Epstein note release stems from a different judicial process.
