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NewsNPR PoliticsMay 7, 2026United States

Judge Unseals Purported 2019 Suicide Note Written by Jeffrey Epstein

A federal judge has unsealed a one-page note purportedly written by Jeffrey Epstein in July 2019, shortly after a suspected suicide attempt while he was in federal custody. The note was discovered by Epstein's former cellmate, Nicholas Tartaglione, who claims he found it in a book after performing CPR on Epstein following an incident in their cell. The Department of Justice has not authenticated the note and stated it had no objection to the release of the document.

Jeffrey EpsteinJudicial RecordsPrison InvestigationsNicholas TartaglioneGovernment Transparency
Read the full story at NPR Politics

Why It Matters

The release of this document provides new, unverified evidence regarding the circumstances of Jeffrey Epstein's time in federal custody, potentially impacting ongoing congressional investigations into the government's handling of his case.

Key Facts

Each fact below is taken from the article. Click one to see the exact passage.

Who's Mentioned

organizationHouse Oversight Committee“Congressional committee investigating the government's handling of the Epstein c”organizationNew York Times“Media organization that petitioned the court for the release of the documents.”personJessica Reed Kraus“Writer and influencer who interviewed Tartaglione on a podcast.”personNicholas Tartaglione“Former cellmate of Epstein and former Briarcliff Manor police officer convicted ”organizationDepartment of Justice“Federal agency that held Epstein in custody and released the documents.”personHoward Lutnick“Commerce Secretary currently under investigation by the House Oversight Committe”personPam Bondi“Former Attorney General who faced criticism over handling of Epstein files.”personBruce Barket“Lawyer for Nicholas Tartaglione.”personKenneth Karas“District Judge for the Southern District of New York who ordered the note unseal”personJeffrey Epstein“Deceased financier and subject of criminal sex trafficking investigations.”