There are camera all over jails and prisons. Thirty minute checks could have not prevented a suicide. Nor a prisoner roommate if they were soundly asleep.And I think that solution of a roommate caregiver is very inappropriate. The initial reports of the autopsy evidence shows hanging. What confuses me is the outrage that someone can suceed at suicide in institutions. People kill themselves constantly. All Epstein had to do was lie and say he was fine. Or he was fine and changed his mind. I just dont get the public shock that he was able to kill himself in an institution. Also I would like to point out Epstien had the cover image of many pedophiles. The image both attracts victims and offers a cover. Michael Jackson, Sandusky, the gymnastics coach, priests, boy scout leaders. All had these exagerated images to catch the children. Then authority to quiet the uneasy suspicion of the sexual abuse. Epstein was a good liar. It was easy for him to create the chance to kill himself if he wanted. And notice he didnt until kill himself during the last conviction. Only now because he was certain to go to real prison, not that luxury treatment he recieved with his last conviction.
7
Barr, whose father hired Epstein as a prep school teacher without a degree, should not be anywhere near this case. Recusal is what should be happening. But, then again, a lot of things should and should not be happening in this dangerous administration.
12
This may already have been said, but who benefits from Epstein's convenient death? Who is sweating bullets to remain in a position generally considered to carry immunity from a variety of legal actions that are waiting in the wings for another 6-1/2 years? I'm not saying that anyone in partucular directly ordered anything that lead to Epstein's death, and I don't subscribe to conspiracy theories but on the other hand I have no ILLUSIONS about what amoral and ruthless folk like our maximum leader (sic), who has a lot of dirt to hide, or those who benefit ffrom protecting him, are capable of doing, or letting happen, when the canaries are about to chirping in court. Who knows. In any event, this lapse in monitoring must be thoroughly investigated and not swept under the rug as though it were just an unfortunate coincidence, because it's not. No way.
2
I say Col. Mustard did it in the holding cell with a candlestick.
1
Who decided to take him off suicide watch? It seems to me it should be straightforward to find out who gave the orders and why.
4
Sorry. I don’t believe it. It smells like a rat and many will continue to deny. This is where investigative journalism needs to step in and step up.
When you see something of this magnitude and hear all others harping about the ignorance of conspiracy theories, before thorough investigation by those not connected to Barr, you sell yourself short by jumping to conclusions and not letting this play out.
It stinks to high heaven. My suspicions will not be deterred until I hear and see a credible investigation. I have no trust whatsoever in Barr. I have no trust in Trump. And frankly, I’m sure there are quite a few high powered men breathing a sigh of relief. I’ve often wondered about the rumors of trump raping a girl. What happened to that story? Is it fake or real?
6
who believes anything report by Bill Barr or his Justice Department. He is proven is a liar and a sycophant.
9
"Rick, I am shocked, shocked to learn that suicide is going on in this establishment."
William Barr
3
Barr has zero credibility.
10
We have a paradox here:
The POTUS and Justice Department caused many difficulties for the jail system by institution a hiring freeze. The jails are short staffed, and dependent on untrained substitutes. The overworked and under-trained allowed a high profile inmate commit suicide. The Attorney General is now going to "Get to the bottom of this," which may mean blaming his office and that of the President.
We don't know how many suicides or violent attack occur because of the created situation. It all might have been part of a long term plan to privatize more jails and prisons.
7
I have worked in and around prisons and jails for forty years. Of course, MCC "blew it," as one expert said who actually knows something about how jails run. Jails regularly "blow it" because inmate suicides occur often, sometimes due to negligence, and sometimes despite staff's best efforts. Unfortunately, there was nothing abnormal about the decisions made in Epstein's case, nor in the presence of sleepy, overworked, and undertrained staff, at a time when higher-level supervisors weren't on site. People who know nothing about jails should ask questions and learn, not endorse baseless theories. But that would require respect for truth.
6
What is normal? We only ha e the representations of Barr and that isn't enough to KNOW anything. He lies.
5
My sense is that maybe the prison did try to hard to have 24/7 suicide watch. I don't think it is a stretch to say that many want him gone, so that we don't have to deal with a drawn out trial, more money being spent on such stupidity. I do feel for the victims but I am relieved we are not going to have to deal with a trial. And then maybe see him go free to hurt more. This way he doesn't hurt any more people.
1
@Sally L., those whose deeds he facilitated, his accomplices and enablers, are likelier now to remain safe from discovery but for a few. That's less good, you might even say bad. They're still out there.
1
If I were that substitute guard, I'd worry about being shot by a Dallas night club owner on public TV.
9
@Bruce Quinn
And RUBY was his name sung to a sad melody.
Interesting that happened in the home state of LBJ who despite being a master politician despised all that was Kennedy. Wealth, Looks, Ivy League, WW2 Hero.
And yet he was probably less than 500 yards away as his Protege John Connally and JFK were being gunned down. Who is to say that his Machavillian mindset wasn't 7 steps ahead in this chess game.
Just like the conspiracy theorists back in 1963 were ignored by the Warren Commission in 1964 I think the wool is being ordered now in large quantities to pull over people's eyes. I understand the sheep shearers are working double shifts to keep up with the huge demands from multiple countries like England and back in the U.S.S.R. ( a nod to the Fab Four).
I hope public interest does not wane on this story as each days promises new revelations as the rats scatter and forge new alliances between different families. Similar to what Michael Corleone did in the 50's onward.
barr must be watched very very carefully. Every move he makes and every word he says is to protect trump. He does not care about justice, the American people, honesty, or decency. Take EVERY word he says with a grain of salt.
16
Trump had nothing to do with it. (Wanna bet?)
7
Where's the autopsy report - unredacted official report?
What is the cause of death - unredacted.
How did Epstein hang himself?
Who was near around his jail cell?
Why were guards gone for 7 hours?
Where are the video cam recordings?
Why was the suicide watch stopped?
11
Thought out history powerful men sought younger girls and many women were attracted to ugly old men with money and power.
2
@Lane correct. But in current day times, we realize that 15 year old girls are not able to give consent, because they don't recognize the consequences of being used as playthings by rich men and then tossed aside like a used tissue. That's why the people who lured them in and pimped them out and gave them, if anything, a tiny fraction of what they earned because of them, are criminals. Are you trying to suggest otherwise? Gross.
4
This was a hit, pure and simple. Epstein had way too much dirt on Trump and Barr as well as many other wealthy men. The trial, names and all the dirty deeds would have come out exactly during the election that Trump must win to stay out of prison himself. We are already a banana republic. And AG Bill Barr is Trump's fixer.
13
"Mr. Barr also said Mr. Epstein’s suicide would not halt the investigation into other people who might have helped him traffic teenage girls for sex."
With Barr personally directing the investigation, it will be a deeply partisan sham investigation in which only certain people will be investigated while others will be protected.
10
Who would benefit the most if Jeffrey was terminated with extreme prejudice beside, say, The Clinton’s who traveled extensively with Jeffrey partying and doing things still not revealed? Who else? The prince of nothing much anyone? Who else would have been relieved by his passing? “Only the phantom knows.....”
2
I didn’t see anything.
1
Really? Epstein was too high profile an inmate to put a "substitute" guard in place. The media wants us to believe this official spin? This stinks to high heaven.
14
How does the CIA get involved in a child trafficking case inside the United States where they are banned from operating?
Why did Epstein share an airplane N-number with the State Department and the CIA?
Why are the files sealed and Epstein's accomplices shielded from prosecution?
Who told Acosta to back off and that Epstein was intelligence and above his pay grade?
10
It's all just such a lie. Such a lame excuse coming too late- infant it makes it worse and makes whatever suspicions have come to the fore more plausible as actual possibilities.
Even if they were 'short staffed' Epstein should have been the PRIORITY over anyone else.
Even if you had only 2 guards, 1 should have been assigned d to Epstein considering all that was at stake.
So many high powered figures with reputations on the line - I will even go so far to assert that Barr and Trump- and at this point only God knows whoever else- have set the whole thing up and now are using these insulting excuses as explanations!...
As for Prince Andrew he trolls Instagram looking for women -I know because I am one of them-and hit on me for 3 weeks straight even showing me photos of himself holding up his British and royal ID. Now all this phony baloney about him reuniting with Fergie is just again, another obvious smokescreen to distract from what a creep he is.
We readers are not stupid.
7
Epstein"s "assisted" suicide proves that if you are rich and powerful, you ARE above the law!
2
We should send Barr the plaque that stood on Truman’s desk: The Buck Stops Here.
3
So you have an infamous pedophile making headlines across the nation stuffed with rich men's secrets. So, as warden, you say, "Better put him in isolation, a famous child rapist like him, about to testify." Right? No. You put him in a cell with a cop who turned killer. Where he's soon found with "marks around his neck." Hm. Must be a suicide attempt. You'd best put him on suicide watch till he testifies, right? No. Take him out after less than a week. And put him on a well-guarded tier for high-value detainees, right? No. Put him where overworked overtime guards ignore him. And voila! The next unusual thing about it all? He's dead. But really, that last thing is the only part of it that made sense. So don't blame twitter or foolish readers or the cynical mood of the day for the credibility of conspiracy theories. The deeds of the actors involved made those inescapable.
8
How nice Barr is on top of this! How better to protect to protect his client (err the president).
8
Barr is investigating the Epstein thing in an attempt to get something on"The Clintons", to get a tummy rub from his boss - that's all he's doing. Oh, and greasing the skids to getting that sweet, forever, SCOTUS gig.
7
OK. Staff screwed up this time. With all the sophisticated security features in modern prisons, there's yet one way to escape: death. Out of jail. No more responsibilities or lengthy trials or public scorn. Poof! The perp is gone.
And there are those who think the death penalty is punishment. Poof! The perp is gone and the rest of us are left behind scratching our heads living the rest of our lives with the pain of the crimes.
When we finally have a justice system that works for everyone, then we'll a system without its flaws and screw-ups.
2
@Chris. yes suspicious. If Epstein lived to testify a lot of rich, well connected sex-pals would be very nervous.
Epstein's death is crime. It obvious his death is a crime and lots of people had a lot to lose if he talked.
This is NOT. not a conspiracy or some mystery thriller of the week. It clear that a crime has been done and many
people played a part to get him silenced.
His death is a screaming big RED FLAG that many people did not want their activities exposed and did not want him
talking.
8
Barr was appalled! Now he knows how the rest of us felt when he announced that the Mueller Report fully exonerated his boss.
12
Wow! I have to remember that strategy of Barr’s for the future! You come out pointing fingers and acting livid and no one questions the fact that this was your responsibility and happened on your watch! Barr has certainly cornered the market on cementing first public opinions before the truth is revealed.
8
Epstein was a high value threat, one of the most potentially ruinous and therefore dangerous kind wealthy, secretive perverts would want to surface. Can't think of a better way to insure he never made it to a witness stand than placement in an isolated jail cell in a notoriously undermanned facility.
4
Do I understand correctly that Epstein's palace wasn't investigated until after his death? How can that be? Where were all the pictures found? You'd think going over his many properties with a fine-toothed comb would have been the first thing the authorities would do after his arrest, but apparently, they weren't that thorough originally.
I'm not a conspiracy hound by any stretch, but you don't have to be one to note that Epstein's cellmate being transferred just a day or so before Epstein's death is pretty curious. I haven't heard a single person in the media ask about this, but it would be interesting to know the circumstances behind the transfer. Why was it done? Was it already scheduled? Who authorizes transfers? Where is that prisoner now, and could a journalist interview him?
7
Why doesnt Barr have the guts to criticize Trump for gutting the Federal work force to pay for his wall and everything else because the Federal government is broke and there is no money for anything??
5
Leaving all the scams aside, so Trump is not sad that his old time friend is dead? Bizzare to see him act so cold.
5
A special prosecutor should be named immediately. Barr is a plausible co-conspirator with both means and motive to a) facilitate Epstein's death and b) to cover up any investigation of wrongdoing in the handling of Epstein. Barr has already proven he is capable of breaking the law - lying under oath - in order to protect Donnie Boy. In addition, Barr's father and Barr himself could be under a cloud for their past relationship with Epstein.
7
I have watched enough TV to know that this was certainly a murder, not a suicide. Moving the cell-mate right before the murder is a sure-fire technique on TV. You know what comes next.
8
Don't blame the temp. The buck stops with AG Barr, who could have prevented Epstein's suicide with a prophylactic phone call to the jail. Barr's lapse of attention to the most high profile inmate under his authority is transparent. Barr should be impeached.
11
Let’s see if I have the logic correct.
The prison workers were so overworked that they did no work while they were at work, causing them to feel overworked from resting the entire time they were at work?
3
Another example of government sub-contracting not working.
The process for prison subcontractors to get these contracts and the oversight of the process and the delivery of services is lacking.
Now they'll be a big analysis of the process, fingers pointed, etc. but with no real change until the whole system is returned to hiring well-screened guards and providing them with good training, decent, benefitted jobs and eliminating a system that rewards the contractors/owners solely in pursuit of short term profits instead of delivering decent human services on behalf of the taxpayers of NY.
5
Mr. Barr is 'appalled' over the circumstances in the prison system that allowed him to commit suicide? I suggest he spend far more time investigating the entire prison system that engages in outright and consistent mistreatment of those incarcerrated. Of course, none of them are even near '6 degrees of separation' of a man whose father hired Epstein, without a college degree, to teach at an elite private school. There is no way Barr could not have known of Epstein's obscene deal in Florida as well as his continued egregious behavior in the years following. Let's add to that his inability to not have known of his 'friendships' with those in power including "MBS", a murderous dictator. In this day of being able to have information available in all matters, the hubris of Barr and his ilk to think the American publc (and I'm not referring to the 1%) will buy what they are trying to sell. Indeed, he lacks credibility and honor as well as the ability to represent the US that make up the real United States and not the THEM that are taking us to the proverbial cleaners.
10
Many government entry level jobs do not appeal to anyone with a few ounces of ambition. They attract those seeking job security (there are few layoffs in the public sector) and generous vacations, sick leave, retirement benefits, etc.
The ranks of too many government organizations end up filled with unambitious "go along to get along" types like those who seem to have been in charge of Epstein's jail.
2
The fix was in, obviously. A high profile inmate like Epstein who had attempted suicide once before would NEVER have been taken off suicide watch. Unless of course some big shot arranged the removal of the watch and the guards.
9
If this were a movie script, the producer would call for a rewrite. This is simply not plausible and requires suspension of disbelief beyond The Rock pulling a helicopter down with a chain (recent movie scene).
The investigation(s) of Epstein read like complete dereliction of duty by everyone who’s been involved in the case.
5
The hardest thing to believe is that Epstein, clearly a narcissist, would kill himself. He didn’t think he did anything wrong, had oodles of money to mount a defense, had a defense (former plea deal and double jeopardy) and had plenty of high profile names to use as bargaining chips.
8
Why would anyone think that Epstein would not be a prime candidate for suicide is beyond me. Once he was denied bail it would seem he realized that he would not be allowed out to live the same life he has previously lived.
Given his lavish lifestyle versus that of prison, why would he want to live? Premises considered, he tried and failed to kill himself. Two weeks later he succeeded.
Keeping him alive long enough to prosecute him would have been in the public's interests. That should have been the federal prison system's priority and it clearly was not.
Barr's feigned outrage is nonsense. I think he is interested in getting his hands on anything that would indict Trump. Why else is he interested in this case? I don't think he cares one whit about the victims. He is protecting Trump.
Raiding all of Epstein's properties is one way to protect Trump. If there is any evidence against Trump it won't see the light of day with Barr in charge of the investigation.
8
I for one do not engage in conspiracy theories, but also do not believe in coincidences. In this case, it is very suspicious that a man such as Epstein, who has apparently shown a (suspected) predilection for sex with minors, and who has friends in very high places, would be given this window of opportunity to hang himself (assuming it is not a homicide). Thank of all the compromising information he may have had on many many people, not just the Clintons, but also our President. The question I would ask, is who has the most to lose, if this information were made public? Who had access to him? Sounds like a good thriller/mystery
6
Mr. Barr also said Mr. Epstein’s suicide would not halt the investigation into other people who might have helped him traffic teenage girls for sex.
But it will stop Epstein from making a plea deal that might have implicated many well known people who enjoyed the service he provided his guests.
How neat and tidy.
7
Due to the suspicious nature of Epstein's death, everything else is suspect also, autopsy included.
No jail cell video, scheduled guard check not obeyed, suicide watch discontinued, unqualified (?) guard on duty.
If Epstein was not killed outright, prison officials aka AG Barr gave him the bedsheet and said have a nice death.
6
Only a complete zombie would believe this FEDERAL facility was not able to make accommodations so that Epstein would still be ALIVE, and TESTIFYING, TODAY.
10
"I'm outraged" What, gambling at Ricks? Barr has long ago lost any credibility. He's the chief law enforcement officer. He knew the outcry that would come if something happened to Epstein yet did nothing to enforce procedures to protect him.
All those in the media decrying the conspiracy theorists are failing to report one important detail and might want to read the Miami Herald investigative series. This man's crimes were already embroiled in a vast conspiracy connected to wealth and power.
Based on that, it seems perfectly fair game to suggest that those same influences had something to do with his suicide or murder.
A special council should be investigated to look st both his initial sweetheart deal and his death.
Unfortunately, I expect Bob Mueller has learned his lesson that even though he is beyond reproach, he will still be attacked; and even when he delivers the goods there is no response.
Moreover with a law that requires a special council to report to the AG rather than an independent body--well we have seen that movie. And let's not forget Kavanaugh whose investigation fell under the purview of the President who had sole authority to determine the degree to which HIS Supreme Court nominee would be thoroughly investigated.
With such systems in place and such people in power, is there any wonder that many Americans have lost faith in the justice system?
7
How does a man get "marks on his neck" and it's assumed that he committed suicide? The sheets in most facilities are paper thin, hardly a means for a hanging. How would he have done this? Light bulbs in the ceiling, no bars, nothing protruding from the walls, no belt. Does it occur to anyone that there may have been somebody else involved? It's a conspiracy theory that bares investigating.
6
This level of atrocious abdication of responsibility is beyond intolerable. Like Jussie Smollet's case, it drives home to all Americans that the system of justice in America, and for all Americans except a small elite, is a complete sham.
6
Poor little Epstein the sick in the head elitist.
Now we're hearing that Epstein's accusers are angered by his death. What do they want? To take the stand to relive their horrors followed by slow agonizing punishment? He paid the ultimate price. Does it matter that he did it by his own hand.
Take comfort in the fact that by doing himself in he tacitly acknowledged his overwhelming, indefensible guilt.
Let the lawsuits begin! Unless, of course, there s no money there because he may have pulled a Madoff.
3
So when El Chapo escapes I imagine Trump will also point fingers at the Clintons, instead of acknowledging his responsibility as president for his administration's failures to effectively manage governmental operations.
10
I feel like this is going to become a wrongful death suit...and a serious slap in the face to all his victims.
2
If all this was compiled and etched into our history today, the American people would look stupid, helpless and confused. The thing is that we’re none of those things. We’re used to having a strong leader at the helm to help guide us in an intelligent, responsible way. We have not seen such blatant corruption in our leadership in recent history. Trump and Barr make Nixon’s Watergate scandal and Clinton’s affair look like child’s play. We face a new challenge in our country and the American people will rise up to meet it to get us back on the right track again. Your vote is required in 2020.
6
“Mr. Barr also said Mr. Epstein’s suicide....” How do we know it was a suicide? Has this been conclusively determined?
6
Barr is a proven Trump lapdog — application essay, Mueller report whitewash.
In this case, he will continue to do his job as a lapdog.
His outrage is just for show.
6
History will be unkind to AG Barr
Whoever he is trying to protect will be unmasked
7
Co-conspirators under the lens. So much for the Johns.
2
"I'm outraged" What, gambling at Ricks? Barr has long ago lost any credibility. He's the chief law enforcement officer. He knew the outcry that would come if something happened to Epstein yet did nothing to enforce procedures to protect him.
All those in the media decrying the conspiracy theorists are failing to report one important detail and might want to read the Miami Herald investigative series. This man's crimes were already embroiled in a vast conspiracy connected to wealth and power.
Based on that, it seems perfectly fair game to suggest that those same influences had something to do with his suicide or murder.
A special council should be investigated to look st both his initial sweetheart deal and his death.
Unfortunately, I expect Bob Mueller has learned his lesson that even though he is beyond reproach, he will still be attacked; and even when he delivers the goods there is no response.
Moreover with a law that requires a special council to report to the AG rather than an independent body--well we have seen that movie. And let's not forget Kavanaugh whose investigation fell under the purview of the President who had sole authority to determine the degree to which HIS Supreme Court nominee would be thoroughly investigated.
With such systems in place and such people in power, is there any wonder that many Americans have lost faith in the justice system?
2
Barr is shocked!, shocked! at how well things have worked out for his client, er, president.
5
Why get worked up about this? Because his influential friends are afraid of being caught up by association? Epstein was a sexual predator/pedophile. He is no loss.
Excuses have their uses until they are all used up.
1
The cover-up has already begun. Dr. Michael Baden, the famous autopsy expert, was present at Epstein's autopsy and will surely tell anyone who will listen that it was a suicide, no matter what the real manner of death was. Something's rotten in the state of Denmark and it's not the corpse.
4
Barr-gate. Remember when the Mueller report was coming out, Barr tried to get out in front of the news and put a false spin on the report's findings. Barr said no obstruction, when in fact the report says otherwise. Barr now says there will be thorough investigation into circumstances surrounding Epstein's death. You can bet that's spin, and instead there will be a prolonged cover-up. Why????????
4
It is a fanciful conspiracy theory to assert that
this is not a cover up!
1
It seems somewhat logical they took him off suicide watch because it took so much manpower which they lacked. Qed
This is quite obvious that he needed to shut up. The powerful people had sent in the order lol
1
'Mr. Barr . . . as the country’s top law enforcement official, is responsible for federal prisons. “We will get to the bottom of what happened,” he added. “There will be accountability.” '
'Union officials said that for more than a year officials in Washington had been made aware of a severe staffing shortage at the facility in the wake of a federal hiring freeze.'
You want to get to the bottom of this suicide, Mr Barr? Really? Then I suggest that you go straight to the top--to yourself and your boss, the phony president of this country. Fish rot from the head.
9
Question:
In assuming that Epstein did hang himself with a bed sheet with one end obviously tied around his neck; what I'd like to know is what in the jail cell could the other end be securely tied to to facilitate a hanging? I would think that whatever it was it would need to be fairly high off the floor. I doubt there are exposed pipes or bars in this place.
5
Everyone is an expert on jails, all of a sudden.
3
No money to adequately staff a federal prison, but hundreds of millions for Trump’s golf outings. No money for toothbrushes for children in federal custody, but billions for a totally unnecessary wall along the border. No money for infrastructure repairs but billions for corporate tax cuts. Welcome to the country designed by Republicans.
15
Somehow, I am not comforted that Barr is going to continue to "investigate."
6
Barr is "shocked, do you hear me? Shocked!" of incompetence within the Federal Prison system. Where have we heard that before?
3
Too much concern for this vile man. Let's think about and improve real problems like kids at the border, clean water for developing countries, the opiate crisis..
3
Oh, la, la...
One of the two people guarding Epstein when he apparently hanged himself in a federal jail cell was not a full-fledged correctional officer.
That's the 'official' narrative?
A real strong full-fledged spin or a real full-fledged distraction?
3
Inmates attempt and achieve suicide on a regular basis this is not is "big deal" to anyone who has worked in a jail. It's fairly easy to asphyxiate yourself without swinging from the ceiling which is the picture most people see when the think of a hanging.
However being on overtime is no excuse for a correction officer to be lax in their responsibilities. If the federal jail is anything like a NYC jail overtime is mandatory. I have read in some reporting (not here) that the correction officer was "forced" to do the overtime. What I would like to know is if a log book was kept to monitor Mr Epstein every 30 minutes and who signed it.
And who is this "stand in" C.O.? How can a teacher or other civilian jail worker do the work of a correction officer? This seemed like a pretty easy gig; check the guy every 30 minutes on a night tour. That's the only thing I find fishy.
1
The activities of the corrections officers is completely irrelevant. Investigators need to focus on two individuals. The psychologist or psychiatrist who said epstein was no longer a suicide risk and the prison warden who approved removing the inmate from suicide watch. Subpoena the emails and phone logs including personal and burner emails and phones of these and other deciders. Somebody got to them. Find out who. Investigating the activities of grunts is just bread and circuses for the masses.
4
The Trump system of organizational practices : create problems through mismanagement and then when a major crisis develops because of these actions, complain bitterly and blame it on something or someone else.
7
Why are we so surprised that this horrible situation happened? Why are we blaming the Federal Govt? The fault is on every single person that saw and did not speak up. When one is silent when things are wrong, One is guilty of the wrong!
We should learn from the history of WWll. All that stood silent here and in the world as a whole when they knew of the atrocities are guilty of its results.
Let us wake up and speak up. Tax payor run facilities need all taxpayers attention. Has anyone looked at NYS South Beach Psychiatric Center in Staten Island? Just like MCC needs change all Government-run facilities need the same. Our vulnerable Mental Health patients at NYS South Beach Psychiatric Center are treated worse than prisoners in isolation. We didn't learn from Willowbrook and we are repeating history's mistakes.
4
@Sara Stern, I found this coverage of the South Beach facility:
https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.silive.com/news/2019/07/new-south-beach-psychiatric-center-facility-scheduled-to-open-by-end-of-year.html?outputType=amp
What is going on there?
@Meme I appreciate your concerns. The conditions at South Beach are exactly like they were at Willowbrook. Check out the documentary
Children of Darkness - Top Documentary Films
https://topdocumentaryfilms.com/children-darkness/
Please look at the film, when you scroll to 40:00 South Beach is featured. This was documented 35 years ago. I recently visited several times. It is still the same. We haven't learned.
To the general public, Epstein is the most important figure at that jail, but if you are a prison guard, aren't you more worried about keeping an eye on various informants, mobsters, and all around psychopaths than a 60+ year old inmate? Epstein can do (and did) damage to himself, but isn't much of a threat to other inmates---- which would be the primary concern of the guards. If you are severely understaffed, then I can understand that attention might be directed elsewhere.
1
Sounds like a staffing issue. Hire and train correction officers until staffing is sufficient.
3
@KC
Sounds like you bought the lie.
1
"Union officials said that for more than a year officials in Washington had been made aware of a severe staffing shortage at the facility in the wake of a federal hiring freeze." When no one cares about how regular people will get their job done because they are so understaffed, and they continue to be understaffed, and use nurses or teachers to fill in, and when workers are forced to do many days of overtime, and the federal housing freeze continues, well this is what happens, and you get what you pay for.
10
The understaffing is the caused by of our incarceration policy that results in too many prisoners. Epstein should have been given bail but the government violated his rights and denied him.
@Qcell
This man was a flight risk.
1
A man so reviled and with no reason to want to live to have to face those consequences, and who just happened to attempt hanging once before, was given bed linen? Just when I feel I’m losing my mind from reading all of today’s world, political and environmental news, after reading about this case I realize it’s not me at all.
26
The incompetence is staggering.
1
@John Doe, no one’s ever heard of sleeping in a beanbag chair?
GOP GOVERNANCE 101: Minimize government hiring to maximize government dysfunction thereby proving that public institutions should be replaced with unaccountable for profit and less competent private contractors who generously donate a portion of their taxpayer funded profits to GOP politicians who create guaranteed cash streams.
27
Barr is the bottom of what happened with Epstein. He knew full well that it would be better for trump and himself if Epstein just went away. By all appearances, he simply played the weaknesses of the system to let it happen.
26
Imagine my relief at knowing that William Barr, the man who read the Mueller Report cover to cover and concluded there was absolutely nothing there, is leading the charge to bring Jeffrey Goldstein's co-conspirators to justice. I can hardly wait to see what he concludes after examining all the computer files, photographs, victim testimony, and emails... especially if, like the Mueller Report, they lay out a substantial case against persons in positions of power and influence.
Any co-conspirators should not rest easy. Indeed. Mr Barr has shown himself to be relentless in his pursuit of a Supreme Court seat... er, I mean in his pursuit of justice.
19
I do not accept the many conspiracy theories floating around. I hope , naively, that we will learn the truth at some point. But to blame the lowest paid people on the line - the correctional officers - makes it easy to sweep away the most egregious problems surrounding this matter.
13
For $25 you can get a set of three security cameras at Best Buy. Pick your nose on any city street corner, you’re on camera. There must be security cameras all over the prison. Why was there no camera in Epstein’s cell? To be clear, I’m not suggesting conspiracy but negligence.
21
Incompetence or conspiracy--you make the call. Either way--someone--AG Barr--needs to be accountable for this death.
13
@Meg
Barr, accountable.Tell me another.
1
Since when do people working overtime become incompetent? What about the security cameras around his cell and floor? CBS news is reporting screaming and shouting were heard coming from Epstein's cell, he was apparently murdered.
15
Given its own hiring practise and staffing issues, Barr's' comment could apply to the white house.
10
This whole thing smells very fishy. Such occurrences are reportedly common in Russia. In the United States? And AG Barr is livid? Really? And we should feel assured? Why did it even happen under your management Mr. Barr?
Where is the autopsy report? Why is it delayed? What did Epstein tie the bedsheet to? Window bars? A hook in the ceiling? How did he get to it?
Meanwhile, the president is spreading all kinds of unfounded rumors? How profoundlywicked and egregious? And he is supposed to be the chief law enforcement officer of the nation! Can anyone still honestly believe that the US is a nation of just laws and procedures?
12
All the conspiracies could be silenced if they just released videos of the man hanging himself. However, they won't and they can't. As Michael Moore said, only Americans are stupid enough to believe this man killed himself. It's quite obvious the marks on the neck event was a dry run for the extraction three weeks later. The ambulance drivers, the hospital personnel, the coroner...all had to be cherry picked and paid off. There certainly was enough money to pay off a 100 people. The DOJ, which is in charge of the prison where he was kept, made a great show of being outraged by the suicide. Trump then quickly began tweeting that the Clintons had done it, a classic red herring maneuver. The fix is in, folks. Epstein, as big a liability as there ever could be for the Bone Spur president, was removed from the Joint--too much of a liability. My only question is: did the Russian need to help out?
11
I might accept some if this theory, but Trump doesn't have the history of dead bodies during investigations.
2
@Margo Always a first time.
2
@Margo
"doesn't have the history of dead bodies".....yet.
Barr got his appointment as Attorney General by writing a letter to Trump saying that he would defend him.
That seems like what he's doing now based on how quickly he pounced.
17
I work for the US forest Service and just like the BOP we have been under hiring freezes and reductions in staff since Jan 2019. We are required to wear multiple hats especially this time of year with fire suprression support on top of normal duties. Understaffed, overworked and no end in sight.
This is Trump’s deconstruction of the administrative state and it’s happening throughout government.
I hope the American people are ready for it.
22
Mr Barr previously demonstrated, on live television, his willingness to lie in behalf of Trump, even when he knew he would get caught. He understands how propaganda works and he will repeat a lie as often as it takes. The man has no credibility, and no honor.
Barr can say what he wants, punish who he likes, and parade about full of his self importance to his heart’s content.
At this point, Barr’s only talking to Trump.
363
@Chickpea Replace Holder and Obama in this narrative and you got it right.
6
@Terrier thanks for that pointless deflection. Have you got any other pearls of wisdom to pass on to an audience that doesn't want them?
15
@Terrier
Sorry, those two had nothin' on Barr and Trump. Their 'crimes and cover ups" aren't remotely in the same league. Try Mitchell and Nixon.
9
I for one don't believe a syllable uttered by AG Barr. Why should we? He's been carrying water for Trump since he as appointed. This is part of the act.
16
News flash: Barr is greatly upset at the failure to keep Epstein alive. Guess what Mr. Attorney General: The buck stops with you. No wonder Trump loves you. Two peas in a pod. Never take responsibility for failure.
17
Eventually the report will come out...fully redacted, of course. Clinton’s name will be all over it. The places where Trump’s name would be will be represented by a black sharpie.
9
Follow the money.
8
So the man IN CHARGE of the Federal Prison System, William Barr, Attorney General of the United States, is blaming the correctional officers for this Epstein fiasco, even though he has directed and commanded the hiring freeze policy of the Justice Dept?
I always thought it was secretly caused by Hillary Clinton while she was hiding Obama's foreign birth papers in Benghazi, Libya?
Where is Sean Hannity when his counsel is sorely needed?
inton
12
Barr is a repeated, documented, and shameless liar. As with other relentless liars like his boss, ignore what he says, and at all times watch what he does instead.
11
Me thinks Barr doeth protest too much.
12
Barr: "We're going to find the others involved in Epstein's trafficking!"
Start with your boss, AG. Start with your boss.
16
Seriously...How dumb do they think people are?...THE most high profile prisoner in the country who had already attempted to take his own life or was attacked, as he alleged, dies in a cell a few weeks later with no cellmate, no video and understaffing is given as an excuse?...sure...that's what happened...lol..
Dear God, I 've NEVER ever wanted a killswitch file to be dropped off at NYT or the Post so badly...one which would incriminate all of these enablers and criminals...
13
The question is whether Epstein's death benefited powerful men including politicians who were close "friends". They talked about Trump as being one of them for a period of time. So Epstein's death was apparently convenient for many.I cannot imagine how the investigation of his death is going to be independent, especially when conducted under William Barr's oversight.
6
I worked in a jail for years. Let me put this delicately. Some inmates inspire sympathy and careful care. Some...do not.
5
Barr certainly is eager to shift blame. But what if he knew Epstein had been taken off suicide watch and didn’t object? Hmmmm. A pretty thought.
9
I'm pretty sure Barr had the legal authority to order US Marshals to watch Epstein every minute of every day awaiting his trial, but Barr made no effort to do so. No doubt in my mind that Epstein killed himself. Also no doubt that a number of lawyers, govt officials, and govt employees knew of his plans for suicide and encouraged and abetted them.
5
"We will get to the bottom of what happened,” he added. “There will be accountability.” This is what happens when you starve a government of tax payer money. I still wonder if there wasn't some sort of word from on high to allow him to be unchecked for so long. It all seems too convenient that he's dead by suicide, give how much he knew about the many rich and powerful men who associated with him.
5
I wonder if Repubs take any responsibility for how under-staffing, possibly resulting from their cutting spending to give huge tax cuts to corporations and the top one percent, might be partly to blame for not preventing this suicide! Sounds crazy? Not as crazy as the 'theory' that Bill Clinton was responsible for the demise of Epstein!
5
Another problem with not funding the government
4
How many people with no resources or influence die in our prisons and jails but get no mention? Plenty.
7
If the prison was so understaffed, they could easily have hired more guards or transferred some reliable guards from another facility to MCC for the express purpose of guarding Epstein. And if MCC is so incompetently run, as these news accounts seem to suggest, they should have moved him to another facility. Yet El Chapo was held there and HE didn't kill himself or escape. Something's fishy here. A friend of mine who works at Rikers Island says that guards there are trained to watch for suicide attempts and they have special tools to cut anything a prisoner might use to tighten around his neck to cut off breathing. Sounds like they should have transferred Epstein there.
89
@Rex Nimbus
Remember when AG Barr interfered and saw to it that Manafort WASN'T sent to Riker's? That last sentence was a good reminder of what a "hands on" AG Barr is.
13
@Becca Helen I don’t understand what point you’re making. That Barr should’ve intervened to keep Epstein alive....or ??
1
@Rex Nimbus
I agree, especially after Epstein attempted suicide three weeks prior to Saturday.
The individuals who know the facts aren't talking.
At the very least, because a suicide attempt was made so recently, this creep should have either been transferred to a prison which has the ability to conduct proper and thorough suicide watches.
There is more stink surrounding this scenario than there are rats in any sewer system.
4
I'm shocked shocked I say that this prison, under Barr's supervision, had problems. After all those problems have only been well publicized for 2 years at least.
7
We can talk about the rumor mill and lament the sudden appearance of various conspiracy theories, but the utter incompetence of the MCC engendered this situation. It is certainly not the role of the media to put down the rumors or to rebut the various theories but to report them unless the media has now become a propaganda tool which I sadly suspect is the case. The very idea of the NYT and the liberal TV programs running interference for the Clintons just because Trump tweeted his suspicions about them is reprehensible.
18
@Edward this wasn't incompetence- it was intentional. At whose behest, and for what purpose remains to be seen, but is was not negligence.
31
@Edward
I agree with you. But I think here on the East Coast we are in the eye of the storm - its becoming increasingly difficult to discern what is relevant and true.
5
@Edward No, what is reprehensible is Trump tweeting a wild conspiracy theory suggesting Clinton's involvement in Epstein's death. We ought to be able to be able to trust the commander in chief to be judicious and truthful in his statements, but at 12,000 plus lies since he took office, Trump is anything but.
Also of the two, Trump and Clinton, who had both the incentive and the means to facilitate Epstein's death wish? We can speculate about the incentive, but it's only that. But it was Trump's Justice Department that was responsible for Epstein's well being and it was AG Barr who refused to recuse himself from Epstein's prosecution or from the investigation of his death. If the probe implicates the White House will we hear about it? I doubt it.
You see, rumors thrive when the government operates in secrecy and fingers can be pointed many different directions.
41
It was a hit and nothing else. The only interesting part would be finding out how much was paid.
12
Many, even most, of the comments here suggest that they despise President Trump more than they do Mr Epstein.
And anyone who has worked in government knows how dysfunctional it often is no matter who is in charge—and sometimes it works better when the bosses are absent and the experienced working Joes and Janes are essentially running the show.
Finally, a bit of research would show that this prison and many others in the Federal system were working just as badly when Eric Holder was overseeing them. So emotional Trump/Barr hatred is misplaced.
19
@ehillesumdon’t forget that the hiring freeze was one step in Trump’s goal of destroying the federal government. His low information fans have no idea what life will be like when Republicans have accomplished their goals of dismantling all the government tasks that make life here so pleasant. When public education, National Parks, Medicare, Social Security, clean air and water, safe food and drugs, a fair and impartial justice system etc. etc. are gone, it will be impossible to get them back.
12
@ehillesum did Holder ever stand before TV cameras and act shocked over anything that happened in a federal prison like Barr disingenuously did?
5
@ehillesum Really now? Based on you speculation about Eric Holder and a two wrongs make a right claim we shouldn’t hold Trump/Barr responsible for what happened on their watch. Right.
5
"One of the two people guarding Jeffrey Epstein when he apparently hanged himself in a federal jail cell was not a full-fledged correctional officer, and neither guard had checked on Mr. Epstein for several hours before he was discovered, prison and law-enforcement officials said."
The appearance sure seems to point in the direction of the "management of the federal jail in Manhattan" not giving a hoot about Epstein in the slightest.
Common sense would dictate that if someone had attempted suicide three weeks earlier, the chances of a second attempt is extremely high.
Great. Even a creep like Epstein had certain rights which look as if they may have been violated by alleged incompetent prison staff.
Epstein's death is not the first occurrence of possible neglect. But because of his notoriety, he is receiving tons of coverage.
How many other prisoners in this country die because of guards or prison officials looking the other way? Where is the outage over their deaths?
62
@Marge Keller In fact, Epstein’s notorious suicide/homicide may shine a light on our horrible prisons thus being his one decent contribution to society.
7
@Marge Keller, wonder if they were paid to look away?
5
@JW
Funny you should write that because I thinking along similar lines.
Regardless of how this creep's life ended, what a kick in the head it would be if his demise could actually bring positive and effective change in and to the prison system.
2
Ah, yes.
The substitute guard.
"Sure. I'll be the one to check on Epstein every half hour until you tell me when not to do that. Just transfer that payoff into my offshore account."
16
And not a word from the Bureau of Prisons, the head of the Correctional Center or the psychologist who determined Epstein was not a suicide risk only 6 days after he apparently tried to kill himself. Don't they owe an explanation to the U.S. taxpayers who pay their salaries? And while we're talking about accountability, where was Barr throughout all this? And a little farther up the chain, Donald Trump, who froze prison funding and who is clearly trying to deflect attention away from his role by making a lot of noise about the Clintons and a conspiracy theory. Are we getting into that obstruction of justice thing again? This whole thing stinks.
11
Barr is in charge of federal jails and the buck stops with him. He knew how important it was to secure a prisoner like Epstein, yet he allowed this travesty to happen. So now he claims to be shocked that Epstein was found dead in his cell with all the signs pointing to a possible murder or creating an easy path to suicide.. Epstein was a man who had lots of ugly dirt against many powerful people and a long friendship with Barr’s boss Trump. It’s not so difficult to do the math.
133
@WallyWolf
I think Barr is sounding the alarms and being so outraged because he IS ultimately responsible and yet refuses to take any blame for anything.
I will never forget when Janet Reno was the Attorney General. Immediately after the horrific and deadly debacle at the religious cult in Waco, Texas, she gave a press conference, where she displayed incredible integrity and a willingness to accept full responsibility.
Apparently that kind of refreshing trait will not be seen with this group in charge.
38
@WallyWolf And Barr’s family had ties to Epstein also since Barr’s father hired Epstein to teach at Dalton even tho he was unqualified. Sooo....lots of layers to peel here I reckon.
3
@WallyWolf And Barr's father hired Epstein to teach at his school...lots of ties here. Barr has lost all credibility.
7
Epstein was a massive narcissist and manipulator, probably the most unlikely type of personality to commit suicide, take blame, or change. Not unlike the president. Narcissists love themselves too much to commit suicide, no matter how much the evidence points to profoundly bad behavior. They feel above society, laws, and common decency; the rules are different for them. Epstein was murdered because he could have dished on a lot of powerful people. The question now is, how independent is an investigation into his activities and his death really going to be?
13
@Katy
Barr will ensure that any evidence involving Trump will be destroyed upon arrival.
1
Let's see if I got this right. Barr is criticizing the jail staff for problem's caused by his boss's hiring freeze and budget slashing that are responsible for those very problems.
And, then there is this: if the prisoner in question had been anyone other than a rich white man and (former?) friend of the President, we wouldn't be hearing about this at all.
111
@William Shelton
I think you've got it. Nice synopsis.
@William Shelton In this case, the rich white man had the ability and possibly the incentive to spill the beans on other rich white men. His death seems too convenient.
2
Truth has never and will never be known when it comes to the US government.
5
Barr says there will be accountability. There head of Bureau of Prisons, like so much of this failing chaotic administration is "acting" and formerly worked in US Department of Education. The federal hiring freeze is remarkable. Between the tax cut and executive excessive spending, the deficit has soared. But now the line worker, one fo whom was working out of title, and both on overtime, some reuired, will be held accountable. The simple fact is that any sensible person knew Epstein was a suicide candidate. I'm surprised it didn't happen sooner. How could precautions not have been in place? As for Trump, conspiracy theories are so much more satisfying than facing his DOJ's responsibilities and his own relationship with Epstein. How dare Barr speak of accountability without tendering his resignation or without Trump demanding Barr resign.
16
"I was appalled, and indeed the whole department was, and frankly angry, to learn of the M.C.C.’s failure to adequately secure this prisoner" said U.S. Attorney General William P. Barr. Really? Apparently our attorney general has no clue about the state of prisons in the U.S. Maybe he should resign. Our prisons are run by gangs. The guards have no choice except to let the gangs run them because a ten-fold increase in the ratio of guards to prisoners would be necessary for things to be structured otherwise. Mr. Barr, you and the President have something else to fix. Have at it - BOTH of you.
23
Hundreds of conspiracy theories have been provided among all the comments on this article. The sad thing is, I'm more inclined to believe any of them than the official story of suicide in an understaffed jail. And the "appalled" (or should it be "shocked, shocked!" ) Barr overseeing the "investigation" does not lead to confidence in bringing anything to light. I think the public sees through all this, but we are completely powerless. I wonder when we will see a situation like what's happening in Hong Kong developing here?
28
@John
You just nailed it! However, I think there’s a lot more the public can do and it’s way past the time for us to start doing it.
25
When a death is unobserved an autopsy is required. Until the results of an autopsy is official, the cause of death is not officially known. This is not a conspiracy theory.
Epstein’s death is a crime. He was a suicide risk and was not monitored as such (under who’s authority?) nor was he monitored under normal protocols. His death is a result of criminal neglect. We have not learned whether Epstein was under video surveillance. Some sources have indicated that video surveillance is a norm in the MCC, but not in or around the “solitary cell” that housed Epstein. Additionally, it is reported that it was not a Psychiatrist who ended Epstein’s suicide watch but Epstein’s lawyers. Did the lawyers request a solitary cell?
Should there be any doubt found in the Pathologists report we are left with this question: who had the motive, means, and opportunity to kill Epstein.
27
@Joseph Huben
It has NOT been reported that Epstein's lawyers took Epstein off suicide watch. Prison officials made that decision.
2
@JH “Epstein had been meeting with his attorneys for up to 12 hours a day before they requested that he be taken off suicide watch, sources familiar with the matter told the Wall Street Journal.”
Question:
With the prison being understaffed, how many others are on "intermittent" suicide watch?
Why is he the only one to have killed himself in this period of time, with the hundreds of men residing there?
Isn't it strange that in the weeks/months preceding this, if true, that Epstein is the solo suicide?
If not, then let the statistics also be evidence. Right now, it all points to a professional hit.
47
@Euphemia Thompson:
Yeah, right...
Why was Epstein placed in a cell with a bunk bed? I kept trying to figure out what he used to hang bed sheets to and finally did read that there was a bunk bed! I did not imagine they had put him in a cell with a bunk bed, so I was shocked about that. Without that, he would have had a much harder time accomplishing his own death.
Where is the autopsy report?
And Barr should have absolutely nothing to do with any investigation. There is no trust there. His bluster and being 'appalled' was a very bad acting job. Not believable, Billy. Thumbs down on that.
It's so sad that we Americans do not trust our government. Billy Barr is going to blame some low level guard when he himself is where the responsibility for this death lies.
50
@sophia
From HuffPost:
And many are in awe that their former headmaster Donald Barr ― a man who was known for being strict, polarizing and conservative ― is suddenly a relevant part of Epstein’s story, too. Barr, Dalton’s headmaster throughout the late ’60s until the mid-’70s, is the father of Attorney General William Barr. As the nation’s highest law enforcement officer, William Barr oversees the office that is prosecuting Epstein.
3
I can't understand why El Chapo was housed there for so long and would have merited but in his case actually received suitable rigorous supervision.
16
Has anyone seen the body and confirmed? was a DNA test made? could it be the dead man is an Epstein look alike? Who are all these people handling this. Remember this man was a master extortionist of the rich and powerful with unlimited money.
20
How do inept people ever get hired in the first place? At all levels and in all businesses and organizations ineptness thrives and festers. Good people struggle to get good jobs but there always seems to be a special place for those who are inept.
17
@wihiker Good point. Look up the warden at the facility and her background.... Shirley Skipper-Scott. Not many years of being a warden. It is often said that some people rise to their level of incompetency. And to be in charge of such a a high-profile person's safety and utterly fail, she should loose her job. That's what happens in the real world the rest of us live in.
15
@wihiker
Did you read the article? It clearly states that there aren’t enough guards at federal prisons and other staff are recruited to do the jobs with very little training. Trump cut funding for this.
Have you ever worked in a place where there aren’t enough employees to do the work? Or been to a Starbucks, pizza place, etc where you have to wait longer than you might expect to because there aren’t enough people to take & prepare your order? Now, try to imagine how it must be in a PRISON.
Please don’t blame the 2 COs without knowing exactly what tasks, how many prisoners, etc they were responsible for. And I’m not sure why Barr is appalled. His boss added to the problem when he cut funding.
16
The inmates in this federal facility are there for theft, narcotics, and an occasionally terrorist. Absent from this list are hardened murderers in the statistical picture of federal prosecutions. So, why was it so difficult to watch this high profile prisoner? Low staffing, probably. Incompetence, probably. But reasonable people will agree,this death is suspicious.
54
Barr will make sure that the personally handpicked FBI agents tasked with “investigation” of Epstein’s private island will bring him any evidence having to do with Donald Trump so that anything incriminating can be removed. But anything having to do with Bill Clinton will be “leaked”. Bill Clinton is going to jail on Barr’s watch, there’s no doubt in my mind. I don’t trust Barr’s Victorian vapors in reaction to the death of Epstein. There was supposedly something in the NY Post the other day about Bill Barr having visited Epstein in jail two weeks ago, either just before or just after his first alleged suicide attempt. Why has there been nothing more about that? Barr has already proven that no task is too low for him when it comes to protecting Trump.
37
Hear, hear.
Who do we think Barr gave a wink and a nod to?
Let’s see whose prosecution(s) suddenly get dropped.
3
@Frau Greta
There hasn't been any more in the press about Barr's supposed visit to Epstein because it's complete fiction.
1
“I was appalled, and indeed the whole department was, and frankly angry, to learn of the M.C.C.’s failure to adequately secure this prisoner,” Mr. Barr said
Hasn't he watched Orange is the New Black? Apparently short-staffed and unqualified is the rule not the exception. In any case, for sure if anything detrimental to u-know-who is found in this so-called investigation we will never know.
18
Epstein was about to roll over on a lot of prominent Democrats (NM governor Bill Richardson and Sen George Mitchell, among others). That people think he committed "suicide" under the watch of unionized prison guards in a Democratic city in a Democratic state, is quite naive. AG is quite sincere about being appalled at Epstein's death, as Epstein's testimony would have caused enormous embarassment for Dems.
3
@Richard
The reports presented prior to Epstein's death suggest high profile figures in both the Democratic and Republican party would be embarrassed and disgraced. Also, there have been names of foreign heads of state bandied about which suggest the finger-pointing would be a source of international embarrassment as well. Suggesting only one political party might be implicated is not consistent with the known information.
22
@Richard
Yes, I’ll sure that the fact that NYC and NYS vote Democratic has a lot to do with what happened, as opposed to a badly-understaffed prison (thanks to Republicans, in case you don’t know that) and an incompetent warden. As if Republicans wouldn’t have been equally or more embarrassed than Democrats over, of all people, an exGovernor and an ex-Senator. Sheesh.
4
@Richard I think affluent depravity knows no political boundaries. This operation has all the trademarks of other recent political hits, e.g. Khashoggi and the KGB poisonings. Hopefully truth will out in this case, and let the chips fall where they may.
5
Too many questions come to mind to contemplate when such an abysmal felon was able to fox everyone after not succeeding at first attempt which should have rung bells continuously. He did not reach his heights of notoriety by being a shrinking violet. No matter what, when so much hung on finally bringing him to justice, one would assume that nothing would be overlooked to deny him another chance at beating the odds, which he succeeded at. In the absence of camera watch and without the mandatory surveillance of this prisoner, where, how and why was this allowed to happen, what shinanegans were at play behind the scenes that allowed this to happen? Too many questions hang in the balance but will anything eventuate to any satisfying degree with the main protagonist absent?
7
Almost nothing about the psychologists. It couldn’t be there fault after all they are professionals. Their reputation which has skyrocketed over the last couple of decades must be protected. The truth is they’ve been oversold as experts on human behaviour. They can no mire predict human behaviour espionage suicide and dangerousness than the average educated person on the street. Psychology as a science is far from meeting the standard of predictability. It’s forte is explaining behaviour after the fact.
1
There was only one overworked psychiatrist for 2000 inmates. The problem with the psychiatrist was the same one with the guards. We ignore the glaring problems with our prison systems for years then act surprised when something like this happens. The only thing noteworthy about this was that it happened to a high profile inmate. Prisoners commit suicide in similar situations every day an no one notices.
23
What jail or prison hands out bedsheets? Might just as well hand out a pair of scissors...
11
This brings into question the safety of all past prisoners. Hard to take them seriously anymore.
Wonder how many have been murdered and claimed as suicides? If he had attempted suicide wouldn’t that change their security behavior.
7
The fish rots from the head.
28
If only Mr. Barr would have found the President's actions as offensive as the guards.
40
Less famous inmates, even those on suicide watch, routinely hang themselves in American jails because we spend next to nothing on staffing and training in correctional institutions. You get what you pay for. In this case, we got a huge mess. Usually, it's just a dead inmate that no one cares about save his or her family, who get meager settlements after the fact--a cost of doing business really--and the band plays on. Next up: Exposes in NYT and elsewhere about, surprise, the number of suicides in jail and how preventable they were.
Welcome to jail in the United States.
18
Barr is appalled? I am appalled he lied about the Muller report to protect Trump. I am appalled that Trump put a hiring freeze on hiring federal prison guards .
56
Some believe vaccines cause autism but this has been thoroughly investigated and has no scientific basis. Epstein's death after a prior suicide attempt and the violation of so many rules and protocols has neither been proven to be a conspiracy nor has it been disproven. Bringing Trump into the mix only serves to obfuscate the investigation which is clearly required. Bottom line: a thorough investigation of all the circumstances behind his death is warranted and someone or someones must be held accountable whether it was a conspiracy or gross, incredible incompetence.
8
At first glance, this case looks like everything that could have gone wrong, did.
At second glance, it looks like everything went right, the way it was supposed to, considering who was 'in charge' and his reprehensible behavior in the Mueller hanky panky among others.
Silence, as power, money and influence, is golden. The only thing we'll ever know about this latest 'investigation' is the fact that we'll never know the truth.
Vote.
35
Jumping to the conclusion that this event occurred due to understaffing, overworked guards or plain incompetence is as bad as in my opinion as jumping to a nefarious conclusion. For the press to already be pushing the understaffing theory as the culprit before the investigation is done and the facts are known is irresponsible.
17
@Sparky
However, there are *facts* that support that understaffing is a major reason why jails have so many suicides statistically. So while it would be wrong to draw a conclusion here, it is not wrong to report on this ongoing problem.
9
Barr is doing a wonderful job playing Monday morning quarterback showing his disgust with the failures at the MCC. But he knew the stakes and he was asleep at the switch. Barr should have taken the lead to make sure Epstein remained alive to face justice. Instead, here we are, an outraged attorney general pledging to get to the bottom of what he failed to prevent.
40
Mr. Barr should resign if he is truly a believer in accountability. The jail was chronically understaffed due to inadequate hiring which is an administrative function that he controls. Don’t blame some low level guard doing the best they can with disastrous staffing.
35
Based on the Attorney General's blatant lies about the evidence in the Mueller Report, I don't expect we will get the truth what happened in this jail cell.
Furthermore I expect all evidence that shows Donald Trump enjoying his time with Epstein and his child trafficking victims will somehow disappear as well.
The rule of law does not exist in the United States today.
37
Either corruption or complete ineptitude: either way his life and this boondoggle have probably already been optioned for a salacious movie....
4
I cannot believe that folks are blaming this on a staff shortage - for a suicide by one prisoner.
If I remember right, El Chapo, the Turkish rich man were among others held as high value accused.
Nothing happened to them.
Incompetence is the answer and not the staff shortage. In many industries including my own, the oil patch - folks are given temporary duties to fill in vacant positions.
But all are expected to perform as assigned or at least closely supervised.
There are several comments below about this administration not filling positions of Director of prisons etc.
Folks are forgetting that the Democrats have made it a routine to force long winding cloture votes on even an Assistant to a deputy assistant secretary.
Forget the Director's job.
1
@Neil,
Nice to know that secretaries are required to work in the oil fields. That’s so Texas.
1
Mr Epstein must have known he was under watch, no question about it, and he knew what it meant: checked every 30mm at the most. He must have been aware someone would intervene as he took action alone in his cell, stopping him.
Could it be that he knew he was not on watch that night and that night was the right time? How extraordinary he chose a time when he was not under watch, by chance. Considering that being stopped would have considerably worsened his chances to do it again, and he knew it.
7
If you cut taxes to the rich when federal institutions are already underfunded, and you elect a president who wants to dismantle as much of the federal government as possible, you end up with understaffed institutions, being run by incompetent people who are willing to work for low wages!
19
@1 bite at a time
So right. This death should be put right at Trump’s feet. He did the removal of the guardrails in the prisons by tampering with correction’s funding. Trump and Barr’s feeble attempt to feign horror and disdain re this suicide just shows their guilt.
2
Perhaps the prisoner should have worn one of alert devices advertised on TV. They show an senior citizen who at the touch of a button a fire truck with EMT is rushed to the location .
The tag line for 20 years has been " I've fallen, and I can't get up !"
Perhaps in Epstein's case there are different versions such as : I've fallen from grace and all my friends are leaving.
Or: I've fallen and I'm beginning to see that white light people talk about when having near death (deaf) experiences.
Or my favorite:
I've fallen off my bed and there are many people trying to put plastic bags over my head.
If there are any cynics out there please feel free to add more.
12
I sincerely wish the media hadn't hopped on this thin excuse -- that the guards are overworked, that one was an untrained substitute, even that every 30 minutes is sufficient to guard against suicide (it's not. Death occurs in under 10 minutes in a strangulation).
The naivete of the reports of his suicide are buying into the story for publication without peeling back any layers.
Look harder, look further. There was huge motive for him to be eliminated. The likelihood of Epstein doing this is remote.
31
The possibility of conspiracy is likely overshadowed by the inevitability of incompetence.
20
@Jeff It is exactly the opposite, incompetence in this case is overshadowed by a conspiracy.
2
@Jeff
Lol. Fair point.
Situation highlights the difference between society’s belief about what should happen in jail versus what actually does. Rather than a daycare, imagine one of those self storage facilities. As long as no one is getting in and no one is getting out, everything is fine. Anything else is out of the ordinary and a pain in backside to staff. That’s why there are no more college classes, no contact visits (it’s all video now), minimal medical care, etc.
8
Why should we trust anything Bill Barr says? He has a history of twisting facts. He is not an honest player as seen from his refusal to recuse himself despite his father's relationship with Jeffrey Epstein. Gosh, Donald Trump also had a close relationship with Jeffrey Epstein and Bill Barr has made it clear, his one goal is to protect Donald Trump.
53
What about the government shutdown? How many guards left MCC and other federal facilities after the shutdown, causing a worker shortage to get worse? If I worked in MCC of have a lot more options for alternate employment than a federal guard in some rural area. This is ripe for a news story.
9
@D
The Metropolitan Correctional Center isn't in a rural area. It's a block from City Hall and police headquarters in lower Manhattan.
6
Am I the only person that thinks it strange that the authorities took so long to search Epstein's Lollita island mansion. I'm sure that most incriminating evidence has since been conveniently destroyed. What about the photos and no doubt videos discovered in a safe at the New York Mansion. Will we ever know who they implicate? It all stinks to high heavens.
61
@Alienist Exactly; and what is so disheartening is that the major news outlets will be complicit, dutifully reporting the details of the 'full investigation' that will follow ("we're going to get to the bottom of this"), until the story fades, or they find a minor player scapegoat to trot out.
15
so what's next, contacting epstein with an ouija board to make
sure he doesn't miss his trial date?
criminal case is over and loot of civil cases start now
9
William Barr has taken the role of the President’s fixer. Was he beginning his duties as fixer when he conspicuously, very publicly, announced that HE would be looking into Epstein’s alleged suicide? We will probably never know.
40
In other words...the fix was in.
The Times is making the argument for privatization of federal jails.
4
@Cjmesq0 We have seen what kind of treatment people receive there! Do you really think that money will go anywhere except in the pockets of the CEOs and investors?
5
@Cjmesq0 Since when has privatization brought us a better anything? We have privatized jails and they are a mess, not to mention full of people who shouldn't be there because of the profit motive. Bad, bad idea.
6
Enough of Epstein and Barr who are both wealthy men with agendas antithetical to a good society.
20
The system failed to protect Jeffrey Epstein who appears to have been neglected to death.
8
When do we get the autopsy report?
20
@proffexpert The " redacted version lol
1
My guess is that this investigation will go the way of the one on the death of Jamal Khashoggi, the Saudi journalist who worked for the Washington Post: a report, an investigation, an accusation and then silence and out of the news.
43
@fritz It should not, but unfortunately, you are probably right with "Protect the President" Barr in charge.
7
@fritz On this subject apropos Kashoggi, I was totally stunned and sickened to the core to hear a few frightened/concerned words by Kashoggi himself as he was about to be killed, read out by Christaine Amanpour while interviewing Kellyanne Conway about Drumpf's incendiary language leading to the two recent massacres. It was frightening.
1
@fritz At least we suspect we know who ordered the murder of Khashoggi, but we will never find out authoritatively the suspect in the Epstein case.
Short-staffing is the ultimate joke here. That excuse might work for an anonymous nobody, but this was Jeffrey Epstein, arguably the most important, most famous inmate on earth. They would have short-staffed other wings and other prisoners before pulling Epstein's guards. Barr's expressed "appall" is downright hysterical. "Epstein's dead. Round up the usual suspects!"
47
I'm not one for conspiracy theories, but this stinks to high heaven. I don't even know that I believe there was a previous suicide attempt. Have Epstein's lawyers confirmed that? And of course, some low-level guard and psychologist are being set up to take the fall.
This is all beyond disgusting.
52
Netflix, Amazon Prime, Hulu, HBO and even Hollywood must be salivating at the chance to make a docuserie or movie...
8
@RBR Ted Danson for the lead role, no doubt.
1
The unions guards were paid of, that’s corruption you can’ t trust those peoples.
2
Where's the video from the camera in the cell? Where's the photo of Epstein's body? Did they cremate the body like they did with Ken Lay so there was no trace of the drug he was given that lead to his heart attack which conveniently vacated the judgment and allowed his wife to keep the money he stole from Enron? Epstein's death conveniently stops the criminal investigation but allows the civil investigations to continue. Thanks for nothing, Barr. But what about the guard who said a green van took a prisoner away without a judge's order. Hey, don't laugh, Epstein could be on a beach in the Scheylles. Without the film and the facts, anything could've happened. Barr is trump's annoying, yapping, dog. Nothing more.
28
As long as no guard was paid to leave him alone - who cares?
4
It’s an outbreak of the Epstein Barr virus for sure. There is no cure.
I found Barr as convincing and passionate as TelePrompTer hostage video Trump.
28
Amazing of all the high profile prisoners in the MTC all were securely watched except for Epstein. He is not a great loss to the world but very valuable for finger pointing. I assume those who were charged to watch him still were paid overtime. Wewill never know who was engaged in his nefarious deeds. The rich are always protected.
15
After work journalists still go to their favorite bar and talk shop, but the heady days of true investigative reporting when fights were fought and blood was left on the editorial floor are long gone. Instead reporters are now reduced in their role and no longer follow the story wherever it may lead but simply complete their writing assignments following the editorial line and doing the flunky work of a paid assistant. They used to drink beer and smoke cigars. Now they order designer martinis which they sip on like vampires and watch their carbon footprints. Swear words never issue from their lips, but every word is sanitized and politically correct. The only thing missing is their souls which they sold long ago. The corporate money is too good, and the cost of living in Manhattan is so high which is the only thing they talk about now over their drinks.
17
I wonder when DJT goes to jail if he'll be accorded the same work at an office privleges that was accorded his buddy, Jeff.
Of course that will be at Trump Tower rather than the Ovaltine Office.
6
Barrs feigned anger should win him some kind of acting award. In his attempt to prove The Buck doesn't Stop at Him he is ready to throw the people lowest on the totem pole under the bus. Overworked, understaffed and inexperienced guards were the culprits in Epstein's death. The Right should have just blamed the guards at The Embassy in Libya and closed the case and saved us from the countless hearings.
20
It is unethical and improper for AG Barr to head this investigation. As head of the DOJ, HE is the person ultimately in charge of the prison where Epstein died, and he has ultimate responsibility for oversight of that prison. Therefore he may have made mistakes and should be investigated. He cannot be impartial so he should recuse himself. He keeps saying he will investigate, but that’s like letting the foxes guard the hen house - he can’t police himself. Barr keeps conveniently neglecting to mention he is a prime suspect in dereliction of his duties. Your editorial board should call for his immediate recusal, and appointment of an independent investigator outside the DOJ supervisory chain.
27
El Chapo and a host of other high profile folks are there too; no suicide for them, even Mr Chapo was on suicide watch, but he was secured. Come to think of it, we expect the federal govt. to handle govt. rationed, "medicare for all".
4
Sadly he had the same amount of jail supervision as Herman Goering who also escaped the executioner, however Mr. Epstein had been convicted by the press, with no presumption of innocence and a fair trial.
3
The buck stops with Bill Barr and his fearless leader Trump.
The lax security measures point to no extra precautions being asked for to keep this from happening, and that rests squarely on Barr’s shoulders. He’s got the same talent for blaming everything on everybody else as his boss, but Barr is to blame. Period.
12
Earlier today I heard something on the CBS News about "CBS has learned that there was shouting and other noise in the cell next to Epstein." I can't find any elaboration about that anywhere in print. Has anyone here heard or read more about that and can explain it?
4
Worked at State Special Management Unit (Super Max) for 3 years and another 2 years BOP. There are so many system failures here to believe everything was coincidence. He was taken off Suicide Watch after a recent active attempt, he was high profile and the circumstances demanded the tightest security. His cell mate was moved and the guards didnt conduct security checks for several hours. I'm no rocket scientist but this stinks to high heaven.
36
Don't forget the convenient failure of video surveillance.
1
Gee, I wonder why Barr - the administration's well-oiled spear catcher - wants to focus on the management of the jail instead of why Epstein is conveniently dead?
Do Republicans not see the way he obscures the truth (time and again) to protect Trump or do they simply not care that their presumptive role model of justice flagrantly mocks the system he's supposed to uphold?
15
People watch too much television.
The fact that so many folks will even half believe the nonsense Trump says, it is one symptom of the illness in American society.
The fact that believe see conspiracy theories in this, it is another symptom of the illness.
Oliver Stone could make a film like "J.F.K." and it did fine. Even if it was drivel.
The Bermuda Triangle ? More planes have disappeared in the same quantity of space inside the U.S. than in the Bermuda Triangle.
And no, on September 11th a bomb did not go off inside the Pentagon.
6
@David Martin I agree. The whole Congress had this illness when they reopened the JFK case and concluded that there was most likely two shooters.
And this illness about 9/11! They think that Building 7 falling at free fall speed means actually means something. Haven’t they heard of office fires!
2
Barr is moving to gain control over all evidence and documents around the Epstein case. He is clearly looking to find and hide anything that might implicate Trump. Just as Barr did with the Mueller Report.
39
Barr shouldn't be allowed to do to this what he was allowed to do to the Mueller Report. Barr is trying to spin it before the facts are in. Hillary Clinton was blamed for the attack on our embassy in Libya but now the head of the Justice Dept. wants to blame it on the guards? The Bureau of Prison s come under Barr's authority and he is doing his best point the blame somewhere else. This is the same prison that held El Chapo the drug dealing escape artist. The same prison that held 9/11 plotters and John Gotti. I wish we all could watch Barr's confirmation hearing again and hear of Barr's unimpeachable character. The Barr serving now could not be the Barr they were talking about in the hearings. A fish rots at the head and our illustrious AG wants to put the blame squarely on the heads of the guards instead of where it belongs on his. A lot of powerful men are breathing a little easier with the death of Epstein. Isn't it ironic that even before Epstein's autopsy is done Barr has already begun assigning blame? Sessions for all of his faults had some Character. There were too many errors to blame Epstein's death on coincidence and maybe some of the conspiracy theories should be looked at. It should be an independent investigation of people who don't report to Barr. This is the same Barr investigating THE FBI for its handling of Clinton emails? Now Barr wants to investigate his Bureau of Prisons? What a Soap Opers all of this has become. The world has to be bewildered.
17
@Steven McCain Yes, agreed. If Hillary was grilled in congressional hearings for Benghazi, so should Barr be grilled for these circumstances in federal prisons. This is a similar context of repeated reports of understaffing and suboptimal security resulting in death. Lock him up.
2
Checking on someone who wants to commit suicide every half hour makes no sense. If a person wants to commit suicide while being monitored he/she will just do it when the monitors aren’t present.
A half-hour is sufficient time to kill oneself. The 1/2 hour issue is a non-issue in my opinion. What’s more significant is that Epstein was deemed non-suicidal after two weeks of being labeled suicidal. That’s a fast recovery.
10
@Agent 99 It's claimed that Epstein's lawyers urged the prison authorities to take him off suicide watch. Why would they do that?
4
About that "accountability" thing Barr promises. He's the guy in charge. It happened on his watch. How about him saying something along the lines of, "I wasn't on top of the situation. I didn't provide MCC the resources they needed to keep this prisoner alive to face justice." Instead, he gets "angry" at the prison staff. When will anybody in the Trump administration take responsibility for anything? It's always blame somebody else.
23
We are in dangerous times of isolation. There might be a horrible comparison between Jeffrey Epstein & the Las Vegas mass murderer, Stephen Paddock. Both were rich enough to use their money to indulge in their sexual interests while avoiding legal consequences. Due to the lack of any accountability, they each grew increasingly isolated from normal society. Overtime, they each dehumanized people. The combination of isolation & wealth kept them unaccountable to normal check and balances. These two stories may be extreme gruesome tales of wealth, entitlement & isolation run amok.
2
What an extremely convenient shortage of staff. Also, how did Epstein figure out he wasn‘t watched?
26
@S They watched El Chapo but were too shorthanded to watch Epstein?
5
It would be so nice if we could blame staff shortages and budget problems caused by Republican cutbacks as if the same problems didn’t exist before Trump. All the more reason for someone to take advantage of the situation for the purpose of a cover-up. Democrats are involved now so, of course, collusion and conspiracy are out of the question.
3
Trump’s hiring freeze in the Bureau of Prisons caused lack of adequate guards and staff. This is how Epstein died.
Small government and deregulation has its downside.
Not sure why Barr is appalled. What did he think would happen with government on the cheap policies he implemented for Trump.
If society wants a nice safe environment we must fund it. Everyone including the elite class and corporations must pay their fair share.
309
@Dr. TLS ✅How do explain this same prison held El Chapo the master escape artist for almost two years? Dead Men Tell no Tales. It is easy to blame it on staffing when there are other forces at work here.
39
The Federal Bureau of Prisons hasn't had an official director for over a year. And the Deputy Director position is vacant as well. This is how the Trumps run the government, straight into the ground. As long as Trump treats the agencies, departments and bureau like a reality TV show we'll have more and more instances like this.
350
Hard to fund staff at a variety of departments when the big bucks are spent at self owned golf country clubs.
25
Mr. Barr is on record that he will not investigate any potential crime that might implicate Trump since investigating a crime when no indictments can be brought forth is "unfair" to the target. Therefore, is this not properly a matter that is best referred to a special counsel appointed by Congress?
998
@Democrat
Yes, but only if the appointed special counsel's investigation takes about two years and then the report is heavily redacted for the public's own good and we have to make do with a specious summary confected by the Attorney General.
59
@Democrat
I would like an independent counsel be appointed, not taking any more chances with Barr and "special counsel" interference with the final report.
38
@Mike T. Well, if it took that long, it would be released during the next administration, which hopefully would see my re sunshine than the Nuekker Report.
At this point I don’t trust anything that Barr says. His shifting during the Muller releases, as well as other strange actions by him are what have gained that mistrust.
Not to mention all the strange connections with his father as well as his penchant for defending Trump.
This feels like the Christine Blakey Ford investigation all over again, an empty gesture to say “we’ve looked into it, now move along.”
1508
@Juan Menendez
I am sorry for your lack of trust. It's the kind of knee-jerk reaction that I've come to expect in NYT comments regarding actions by public officials. That's OK, you are entitled to have such reactions.
Can you enlighten us commenters in the minority who have a more optimistic view of actions by our government? Please name one, just one, public official whom you DO trust.
10
@Juan Menendez
Somehow I feel that someone higher up allowed a chain of events to happen that would "free" Epstein through death. Now he can't "out" his ultra-wealthy co-conspirators -- those, like Epstein, who don't have to live by the same rules as the rest of us.
96
@Juan Menendez
Off-topic but wasn't Christine Ford a hired gun? At least the way she was brought in for a hit job only to immediate disappear right after.
Where's the follow-up on her accusation? I would think liberal media would have followed through, or was it always part of the arrangement?
Republicans benefited too, in that it fired up their base.
6
Very few suicides require 30 minutes...one staff person who is not a trained guard could be monitoring cameras. But maybe that's too much common sense (which really isn't very common today).
15
Scary read in many ways, not just because of Epstein but maybe even more as a proof of the crumbling infrastructure in the US. The Republicans pretend to keep the coal mines and the fossil fuel industry, in general, going in the name of employment while infrastructural elements of the state are constantly short-staffed, underpaid and badly equipped. This goes far beyond the correctional institutions and includes teachers, nurses, police force and basically all the human-based infrastructure that is so important for a functional society.
The reason is, for me, clear: More and more of the money that flows around in the US are escaping taxation. That is why there is no Golden Gate's being built anymore, no Hoover Dams, hardly any roads, no railways. That is why more and more people fall outside the realms of society and live without hope, healthcare or dignity.
It moves so slowly that it is almost invisible, but it leads to the inevitable.
38
@Truthseeker you summed it up perfectly - crumbling infrastructure both human and built. What the early 21st century will be known for in American history, time will be the judge.
12
Budget issues on jails? Is it really a surprise? I wonder to what extend money for Trump wall, or the massive tax cuts explain the staffing issue in federal prisons.
16
Constitutional rights and laws preventing the repeated prosecutio n of individuals for the same "offense" , apparently did not apply in the case of Mr Epstein. Whatever one might have thought about him, or his wealth, he was still a citizen and still protected by our Bill of Rights and the constitution's various protections, from self incrimination, from double jeopardy. However, as Mr Epstein had made some very influential people-women mostly- so angry, apparently the government and many of it's members were willing to see normal constitutional rights and protections tossed aside, to obtain a conviction-at any cost.
Now that he is gone, it will be interesting to see whether the states and federal government are still wiling to do without normal constitutional protections-just to ensure that some few individuals are imprisoned and punished to the greatest length, and harshest possible penalties- I wonder if any women were complicit, & will also suffer-being members of the "gentle sex", after all?
2
@meloop not a case of double jeapordy - JE was previously convicted of crimes committed in Florida, which does not exempt or protect him from separate crimes committed elsewhere - such as his Manhattan mansion or in his island. The current investigation has to do with crimes committed in NY and possibly his island. As for female co-conspirators, read the NY Times articles about Ghislaine Maxwell - his companion and procurer of young masseuses - I do believe, despite settling a civil suit years ago, she is not protected with regards to this current investigation.
9
Question for William Barr:
You said in your statement that the case will continue and no co-conspirators would be spared. Does that mean that the DOJ will indict a sitting president if he is a co-conspirator?
69
A perfect set up for a hit, a killing to silence him. It’s the only conceivable explanation.
45
@Yuri Pelham No. That's not the only conceivable explanation. And it's not what happened.
Finally Epstein did an honorable thing, saved taxpayers money and saved himself from misery.
8
@Bob Nope. That's not what happened. But it's a nice thought.
3
@Bob
The same religion that prohibits suicide (largely on the grounds that one's life is not personal property to be disposed of at will, but rather belongs to its Creator) also says, 'Justice, justice shall you pursue!"
Although it's easy to dismiss these principles as the superstitious rantings of old fogies, the untenability of your stance points to the joint coherence of these principles vis a vis the standard secular liberal dismissal.
In a strictly utilitarian logic you would be correct, and from this would flow (though you might try to deny it; yet you imply you wouldn't bother trying) that there can be no justice for Epstein's victims.
The non-utilitarian religion that says "Justice, justice shall you pursue" and prohibits suicide establishes answerability to a higher authority and on this basis promises justice to victims.
Epstein's (apparently cowardly) escape, rather than being honorable, was basically a broad repudiation of his religion's core moral principles, in favor of anarchic hedonism. The latter may appeal to some, but you must then ask, "Where does that leave justice?" As in this case: Denied.
3
Epstein denied his victims their rights to face him in court.
2
Barr -- and by extension the DOJ -- cannot be trusted to investigate Epstein's death. We know that Barr lied about whether Mueller's report found evidence of obstruction by Trump. Why would this case be different?
Any evidence the DOJ finds against Trump -- Epstein's former crony -- will be buried, just as the evidence in Mueller's report, ostensibly because a sitting president cannot be charged with a crime.
Our whole government has been corrupted, whether it's the DOJ or the EPA.
51
I guess Trump would rather be known in history for his incompetence in every aspect of governing than for being racist.
At least the Republican party's incompetence in budget cutting for federal prisons is a highlight of today's news knocking off from the headlines Trump's racist language leading to violent mass murders by a domestic terrorist encouraged by Trump's rants along with his media friends.
Just to be sure, the Republicans added controversial legal immigration income minimums and removing animals from the endangered species list to the news dump. Someone in Trump's administration is scared, very scared at the negative voices targeting Trump for his racism, his lack of empathy for victims of disasters and his poor hiring practices. (Acosta)
I hope the Democratic candidates for various offices don't lose their focus on the worst administration in the history of the USA. Trump's incompetence in governing is so complete, it is difficult to pick just one area in which he and his administration fail. Staffing prisons comes very close to a basic government service every administration ought to be able to perform.
24
Mr. Barr, who, as the country’s top law enforcement official, is responsible for federal prisons and should be held accoutable.
51
Jeffrey Epstein should not become the poster child for prison reform. He needed to stay alive to answer for his actions and give those women their day in court. This was the most important prisoner in Federal custody at The Tombs who needed to be protected from himself or murder by a hired killer.
Barr must resign immediately for failing to do his job and for not accepting an ounce of responsibility for this mess.
71
Barr;s father hired Epstein to teach at the Dalton school when he had no degree and that gave him access to numerous rich folks. Trump is Barr's client and a possible suspect so if they find incriminating evidence in Epstein properties pointing to Trump it seems Barr is the last person to oversee that investigation. Of course this is probably why Barr is anxious to oversee this case and it is what Roy Cohn would do and that is Barr's role witness how Barr distorted the Mueller Report. If he has respect for the law he needs to recuse and Trump would panic.
55
People always say "bail was denied because he was a great risk of flight".
No doubt true. And killing himself would have been easier (and maybe less painful) at home.
6
Mr. Barr is responsible for everything that happens, or doesn't happen, under his administration of the Department of Justice and its subsidiary organizations. Mr. Epstein died on his watch. Mr. Barr, having failed in his duty to ensure that outcome did NOT occur, should resign in disgrace.
43
A billionaire wants to take his own life while in a jail cell. He arranges for 1M$ to be paid to each gaurd for looking the other way. More likely?
10
@Windwolf No. Too many upper management officials involved to just pay off a guard. Too many decisions by people Epstein had no immediate contact with, like the order to transfer a cell mate so Epstein would be alone, then "understaff" with "inexperienced" outsider guards, etc. Had to come from the top. The very top.
41
While I'm still plenty suspicious of the circumstances of Jeffrey Epstein's death, I'm not all that surprised that even the mighty Federal Metropolitan Correctional Center in Manhattan apparently has a chronic understaffing problem. After all, we've been running the Federal inmate population into the redline for nearly 40 years https://www.sbs.com.au/guide/sites/sbs.com.au.guide/files/styles/body_image/public/graph.png?itok=2Y8Erd6Z&mtime=1512517879
So I'd venture that much of the understaffing problem these days has to do with steadily increasing difficulty in recruitment, hiring, and retention of trained and qualified personnel. After 40 years of grappling with the overcrowded cellblocks of the Drug War Gulag State and its spinoff institution, Gangster Nation, the first and second wave hires are long retired, out on stress claims, etc. No more easy pickings in the recruitment/re-up pool. Too much burnout. At this point, too many job seekers know the deal to want anything to do with that career- you literally can't pay most Americans enough to do it.
At this point, the Federal prison system (that lynchpin of the Drug War) is running on Overtime. Not just overtime pay- Overtime.
15
Mr. Barr makes a great statement over the Epstein apparent suicide investigations, but the fact remains, he has control over the documents, photos & videos taken from Epstein’s premises, who could trust Barr after his “performance” Mueller statement .
The people of this country should have no trust or confidence in this AG.
50
Not too much training is needed to check every half an hour that prisoners are in their cells alive. Also, were there no security system camaras and agents watching through them? Some friend outside may have made arrangements for security to be relaxed and give him the space to exit and put an end to his nightmare. Other kind of conspiracy theories are way off. It should be fairly simple to find out how the lapse in surveillance took place. But follow the money...
22
Look at this and tell us that we're cooking up conspiracy theories. Epstein's first suicide attempt was seen as a possible hoax, and now we have another, even more blatant set of events, something straight out of a Hollywood movie.
This time they're going to have to prove that it was all the fault of some over-tired guards who didn't check on him for hours and prison officials who didn't manage to get him to the hospital in time to keep him alive.
The story is beyond belief, which suggests that an Epstein alive, to name names, was so dangerous that he was marked for death, and whoever orchestrated that just had to hope nobody could prove he didn't die in the way we've been told he did.
This is a distraction extraordinaire, but it's not shaping up to benefit Trump this time.
34
The real conspiracy is how somebody like Epstein managed to persist so long before he was brought down. He should have been broke and in jail 10 years ago.
31
WebMD: "Even though Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) isn't a household name, you've probably been infected without knowing it. Lots of people carry the virus but don't get sick."
In this case, Epstein-Barr made me really sick.
39
You should emphasize that AG Barr is responsible for all federal prisons. He is where the buck stops. He is the one who should be held responsible for the serious flaws, and there are many, that brought about the failure of this imprisonment of a star prisoner. Barr is adopting Trump's tactic of diversion---Barr raising his hand feigning anger declaring total innocence in this stark dereliction of duty. He's angry, he's appalled . He should apologize, before he starts looking for others to blame. Part of your job, Mr.Barr, to watch the federal jails.
And Trump will help divert blame with his ridiculous conspiracy theory suggestion that the Clintons snuck in and murdered Epstein. If conspiracy did take place it more likely involved Barr and Trump, both having ties to Epstein. Barr's father hiring him for his school and Trump partying with him years ago. Barr's goal as always is to protect Trump and claim innocence for his boss--above all else.
50
Once again, we have AG Barr trying to create a narrative that puts blame anywhere but on himself. Epstein was a high-profile prisoner with potentially a lot of "dirt" he could reveal over time, including exposure to prominent people such as Trump and Barr himself. So much about this situation reeks of suspicious activity, not simple negligence but intentional placement of Epstein at risk.
Note that Barr is angry and appalled, not ashamed or admitting culpability for his own failure as the head of the department in charge of Epstein's imprisonment and his protection. Note that Barr failed to ensure that all the best resources were in place to make certain no harm came to Epstein, but instead we see evidence of a shoddy or, worse, a purposeful exposure of Epstein. It was on Barr's watch and reflects on his massive failure or perhaps his desire to place Epstein at risk.
Note that Barr has a history with Epstein, including the fact that Barr's father was the first person to employ Epstein in a job for which Epstein appeared to have scant qualifications and which ended with Epstein being discharged for "poor performance" and that Barr's law firm represented Epstein in a previous case. Barr knew very well how important Epstein was and had every reason to protect Epstein, yet the "suicide" resulted from what is being described as serious irregularities. In a time of countless phony conspiracy theories, we seem to have a situation that suggests real conspiracy.
105
@TRJ,
On 7/8/19 Barr recused himself from the investigation. The next day he unrecused himself. Any clue who made him change his mind?
Very fishy.
"I am recused from that matter because one of the law firms that represented Epstein long ago was a firm I subsequently joined for a period of time," Barr told reporters in South Carolina. Earlier today, federal prosecutors in the Southern District of New York indicted Epstein on felony charges related to sex trafficking minors, including one count of conspiracy to engage in sex trafficking of minors.
29
@Agent 99 I see no reason to trust in anything Barr does or says. He's a thoroughly dishonest and openly corrupt person who has no business heading up our DOJ. Most of those who once considered him honorable and committed to real justice have now concluded that he's run his moral motor into a ditch.
11
Why are the authorities just going to check out Epstein’s Virgin Island home now?!
38
One guess is that they needed justification to do so, ie criminal activity in that residence, and that the recently unsealed documents provided just that. I hope the same will be true of his other residences!
12
“I'm shocked, shocked to find that gambling is going on here!” (The croupier hands him his money.) “…Your winnings, sir.” “Oh, thank you very much!” - Casablanca
Of course Barr is appalled. That’s what the script says.
72
@Anglican
Thanks for that reminder of one of the many great scenes from that movie.
2
What high officials were part of this? Smells to high heaven.
33
The only people who think William Barr is going to continue investigating those responsible in the Jeffrey Epstein case or hold those responsible for his all too convient suicide are the same type of people who believe there is a bridge in Brooklyn that can be had at a bargain basement price.
53
The estate will sue the prison system. The prison system will argue that they are under funded and the requests for funding were denied by state and/or city. The estate will settle its suit and there’s the money for a civil settlement.
3
@Ira Leibowitz
Mr. Leibowitz, this is a Federal Facility - not the responsibility or under the authority of the State or City. It was Donald Trump's administration that put a hiring freeze on hiring guards after being repeatedly warned about staffing shortages. So our tax dollars will once again go to pay for the Federal Government's mistake. If you are going to try to blame someone - get your facts straight.
26
@Susan. It was just a little gaffe. Why so enraged? It is a Federal prison, and Barr will be investigating why HE was so remiss. We will be paying a man to investigate why as General of the system, he was unable to do his job. Worry about who is being paid, not how much is being spent. It hardly matters.
13
@Susan. It was just a little gaff. Why so enraged? It is a Federal prison, and Barr will be investigating why HE was so remiss. We will be paying a man to investigate why as General of the system, he was unable to do his job. Worry about who is being paid, not how much is being spent. It hardly matters.
How convenient that an acting substitute guard is being set up as the fall guy. How do you even get a job as a temp watching a high-profile inmate? Who gets to watch El Chapo, the deli clerk up the block?
122
Oh please. We aren’t stupid. He was murdered one way or another. It’s a giant cover up for obvious reasons. Barr’s father hired Epstein to teach mathematics at Dalton in the seventies. He had no qualifications other than his good looks and some mathematical ability. Duh.
59
@Ignatz Farquad What does the 1970’s have to do with it? The day before this happened there was a document dump that named a bunch of people who participated in these sex trafficking activities. They were all Democrats. I am sure there will be Republicans implicated too. Let the chips fall where they will. Indict whoever was involved.
The underlying cause of Epstein's death could go either way - suicide or murder. After doing some reading, I believe the latter is the more likely.
Epstein's sex trafficking & blackmailing is a decades old part of government, politics, business, mob and even church. I'd heard bits of this and that over the decades, but the details are discouragingly connected in this 3 part article by Whitney Webb:
https://www.mintpressnews.com/shocking-origins-jeffrey-epstein-blackmail-roy-cohn/260621/
I recall Alex Acosta, Trump's recent Labor Secretary and the Miami's top federal prosecutor that let Epstein off for child rape and sex trafficking, saying that Epstein was in "intelligence".
Acosta's remark make sense once we understand the long and "lurid political history of the U.S. from the Prohibition Era right up through the Age of Trump".
I think of most Americans as decent people. I hope the truth will out and that decent Americans and the rule of law will carry the day and clear the rot out of our halls of power.
25
An understaffed federal jail. Barr must investigate to find a scapegoat.
28
This was perhaps the single, highest-profile prisoner of this current century. We need an explanation that makes any sense at all.
I want to know what there is in a cell off of which one may hang oneself. And with what means of tying up one's neck.
No.
This story being propagated is in no way believable. These poor explanations are all they can think of? Unimaginative administration.
29
Barr will summarize the investigation announcing everyone is exonerated. Then a heavily redacted report will be released to the public. The case will then be closed.
45
Oh, how perfectly professional.
Barr is appalled. No clue that the MCC had issues with competence and staffing. Says there will be "accountability."
Gee, I thought the word "accountability" only applied to anti-Trump people, once Barr became the AG.
And, what's going to happen? A corrections officer who had to work several double shifts is going to be fired? Or a janitor or someone else who got promoted to be a corrections officer for a day is going to be fired? Okay, yes. That's great accountability.
Come on, everyone. Nobody who had any physical control over Epstein in jail cared whether he was able to commit suicide or was shanked. He was the same as a dead man walking.
Yes, I understand that the victims wanted justice. But, what's better? 1-20 years of trials and appeals? Or the man being dead.
I've asked so many of my women friends. If they had been sexually assaulted or abused, would they prefer life in jail or dead, for the man who did it. Almost all of them said "dead."
5
@Alexandra Brockton
I don't think any of us have a right to speak for his victims. I'm sure many wanted to be able to force him to look them in the eye & tell him what he had done to them. All of us should be careful to suppose we know what's best for them. Personally, I knew he'd kill himself if given the chance - a man, who had gotten away with so much for so long was unlikely to be able to handle the exposure. I just hope, for the victims sake, all of the other depraved men are exposed & prosecuted.
15
Everyone keeps saying that the investigation will continue to identify others who helped Epstein traffic children. What about the Johns??!! Why are we not including everyone who raped or otherwise sexually assaulted those trafficked girls? Why are they not being pursued? Until we destroy the market for sexual exploitation of children (and adults), human trafficking will persist. And the only way to destroy the market is to hold Epstein's pedophile partiers accountable for the crimes that they committed.
39
Now that Barr is on the case, we can just sit back and watch justice roll forth.
28
I thought there weren't supposed to be bedsheets on that ward for that reason. Or is that just the suicide watch ward he should have still been in?
13
The Tesla connection that James Stewart reports in the next article has legs.
9
This is all a pretext to come after the Manhattan District and her judges meddling into Trump’s taxes. Look next for attacks on the judges in the Manhattan District to commence.
14
@Truth Is True
ummm, no. completely wrong. This is a federal prosecution and a federal jail. And since there is no "Manhattan District" we will assume you are merely confused, and thinking of the NY AG, who is a state official.
2
This is a classic mob hit. Hasn’t anyone seen any movies or read any books? When the witness against the mob is going to testify they pay someone on the inside to kill them and make sure doors are left unlocked and guards are called off, so the deed can be done. We are dealing with the ultimate gangsters here. It’s all about money and power. Sex trafficking is an international business with roots in Russia and Eastern Europe, but there’s enough guilt here to go around. The people running things are not going to just sit back and do nothing. They never have and they never will. Hopefully, the people will see how corrupt it is and revolt, but there’s too much spin these days for most of us to know who to revolt against.
39
My suspicions exactly. Like our friend D'angelo Barksdale...or somebody got paid to "close an eye now and then"
9
The Trump Regime is out of control and has zero credibility. It's time for Congress to appoint a special investigator into this mess.
26
I heard a res report this morning that said that Epstein's criminal conviction is effectively wiped out, for the purpose of compensating the victims.
That means that in addition to the "suicide" derailing investigation of high level sex crimes, that the Epstein financial empire will not be exposed.
There are probably as many or more skeletons in Epstein's financial closets as in this sexual ones.
13
That ends the the trial and the ambitions of the prosecution. The news media will pick another breaking news item to harp on.
Why should we believe it’s suicide? In a court of law, proof is needed to convict someone of killing another person. In a suicide case, an investigation (of whatever sort) occurs and a declaration is made that suicide occurred. What actual proof is needed for the latter? Is it at the same standard as “beyond reasonable doubt?”
8
That island should have been raided the day he was arrested. Weeks down the road, anything could have been removed, destroyed, or tampered with as authorities waited to perform the raid reported in this article. Was anybody observing the traffic to and from the island while Epstein sat in jail? These kinds of things are what gives rise to conspiracy theories as agricultural fertilizers give rise to red tide blooms... (roll-eyes)
28
DO NOT make the guard the scapegoat.
Epstein was a monster, and whatever he might have done to himself cannot be blamed on that guard.
Unless, of course, those who want to deflect attention or blame — for whatever reason— are also culprits and to blame.
45
@Kathy completely agreed. The real horror was carried out by Epstein. The label monster is thrown around a lot nowadays but Epstein was the quintessential monster (even worse than Harvey Weinstein as if that were possible). Whether this was a suicide or a murder, Epstein got off easy. He should have been made to suffer the remaining years of his life for the horror he inflicted on many young girls. He was nothing less than pure evil.
15
The guard may have purposely avoided doing his job so that there would be no witnesses to this homicide.
3
@Kathy
They do need to investiage whether a guard took a pay off.
1
This action -- successful suicide -- was really so predictable.
It's August. Everyone from our regular postal delivery person to, I assume, career correctional officers, are taking their deserved vacation time.
This of course leaves gaping gaps in qualified covered. Epstein, for the monster he was, also was not a fool.
He was persuasive enough to snow the psychologist / psychiatrist who cleared him to less stringent supervision and then he was aware enough to note the personnel shortages and seize his opportunity.
9
Shame Barr isn't similarly outraged by his boss's dalliances with dictators and the resulting irregularities and vulnerabilities. So he's been deprived of his opportunity to convict a foul, foul pedophile. What about Americans being deprived of a trustworthy, meaningful vote?
45
Does Barr not know that it was on his watch? He doth protest too much...
73
Barr is simply tap-dancing fo The Donny, he is his personal counsel & protector, not the servant of the USA public as the constitution calls out, DC is an utter disaster at the moment
32
The conditions in federal prisons including the Manhattan facility have deteriorated to the point that both inmates and workers' lives are at risk, and Mr Barr knows this well.
A year ago the new Director of the BOP, Gen Inch, a 30 year career Army officer resigned citing the adminstration's failure to "respect departmental norms".
This included the President's directive to cut 6000 correctional officer positions despite a 27% increase in the prison population and forced augmentation; all workers from clerks to food service workers were pressed into service as 'correctional officers' despite little training and no experience.
The risks of forcing them to adapt to the new "norms' is increased by mandatory overtime shifts, usually 4-5 per week, is also well known to Barr.
So as incredulity over Epstein's death is voiced across the nation by experts and retired wardens, and experts, Mr Barr's reaction looks more like staged theatrics.
The back story of his work with Epstein's lawyers, his refusal to recuse himself, and his own Father's association with Epstein, his fractious career in academia makes us look pitiful.
There's one more: Barr Sr was the author of a lurid novel depicting... sexual slavery, and the art of dictatorship in outer space...
So despite these connections and plot twists Barr Jr has been in charge of the care and protection of a man with a death wish and a price on his head, and now he's dead.
Now that sounds like a better scenario for a best seller.
62
@Rosiepi Overload the prison system so that prisoners can farmed out to for profit prisons. Those guys make big donations. SMH
14
Exactly! I was waiting for this comment! Thank you! This needs to be repeated over and over.
2
What about jails across the country where people are killing themselves? Why no concern about the likes of Sandra Bland?
30
My thoughts are the bottom line here is that dead men don’t talk. He had much more to lose by remaining alive. Was he promised things would go away and his wealth would remain safe if only he did the right thing, wink, wink? Dead men don’t talk and it sure sounds like this one knew too much for too many powerful men from all walks of power and all corners of the world. Why is AG Barr so hung hole on getting the truth of the negligence when we all know his bottom line is to protect his master. He certainly does t care about doing the job of the people for the people. He alone makes me suspicious about this all.
34
I can't think of any precedence for such incompetence. Which makes me believe it was not incompetence . . .
70
It was a brilliant caper and will eventually become the subject for the big screen.
3
@Sophocles
If you can't think of any precedence for such incompetence, you haven't been paying attention to the Trump administration.
2
There is probably nothing more to it than him paying off officials to leave him alone so he can conduct his little business.
10
As long as the rich people in this country control Congress, taxes will be cut and government services will suffer. It is not all just government fat; much of it is spent efficiently and you get what you pay for. And the rich do not want to pay for much. If government is so bad and needs to be shrunk, then jail guard staffing should be shrunk and prisoners can off themselves, FAA oversight of new Boeing airliner designs can be minimal, and the EPA does not need to monitor struggling cities for the lead in their pipes. Good luck when your kids get lead poisoned, crash in an airplane, molested by an ultra-rich wall street guy whose lawyers can intimidate the DOJ, or shot by someone who was sane when they bought their AK47 but has become crazy and extreme now. Don't expect the government to help, you downsized them to the point of ineffectiveness.
50
@Will Hogan: Very well said, and thank you.
What Murkans refuse to understand is that nations with higher tax rates get far more services for every dollar (or whatever unit) spent: When a governing body knows that there will always be funds for, say, infrastructure, then appropriate maintenance is scheduled and performed, and stuff, y'know, *works*.
I'd bet my life that every GOP lawmaker runs their household budget in the sensible ways chosen by every dirty rotten DemSoc / DemSoc-ish nation out there (including our friends to the north), not in the slapdash, haphazard, variable-from-year-to-year method that GOP fiscal policies make requisite here: "No, I am NOT going to have my roof replaced every 7 years as recommended, and so *what* if it leaks, ruins my belongings, and destroys my house! I am going to cut domestic spending, just because!" I just don't see that happening in every GOP household.
7
Nor has Mohammed bin Salmon been in any prosecutable way connected to the assassination of Jamal Ahmad Khashoggi 2018.10.02.
"Maybe he did and maybe he didn't." - DJT
Any who detect a pattern here are maybe delusional…
28
I am guessing that the tactic of reducing staff at Federal detention facilities and blaming that for the problems will be used as a reason to turn to Private Prisons.
Very Trumpian.
66
Move on. People wanted to call him to account, they did, and he handed out justice; albeit on himself. He's gone to where there is no time and no money. The story is over. Move on.
3
@Tom
Sorry Tom but suicide is not justice.
33
@Tom — Tell that to his many victims, who wanted to face him and see him answer in a court of law.
Going out on one’s own terms (if that is indeed what happened) isn’t justice. It’s sheer cowardice.
13
@Tom tell that to the women who were raped and trafficked by him for years and years. What if one of those women were related to you? Would you still be saying "move on"?
22
As the majority here responds, definitely we can smell something bad. Even if this reaction turns out to be simple ‘conspiracy theory’ that is going to die out soon, there are some general truths we all cannot deny. Many of the people we choose to keep law and order and to lead our public institutions are quick to turn to do evil for maintaining their power and to impose their ungodly political ideologies and beliefs on all, despite many who even voted for them to power don’t condone such evil. In the Old Testament times, there were God’s appointed prophets to admonish and correct sinful leaders such as David, Ahaz and Nebuchadnezzar. Sadly, we miss true prophets in this age. Instead, many of the so called modern day ‘spiritual leaders’ never speaks out truth, and many indirectly even support evil in order to stay in power and amass wealth themselves.
21
This is just so incompetent that we can be excused if we conclude that this had to be deliberate.
This man should have been watched 24/7 from the minute he set foot in that facility, poor mental state or not. The MCC is not the Mayberry Town Jail, and Epstein was not Otis the Town Drunk.
Barr can be as enraged and appalled all he wants, but he will still have to answer for this. Now I’m wondering how long it will be before another letter of resignation hits Trump’s desk.
58
@MDB
Barr, answer to whom exactly?
10
To hear Barr on this topic, we could think of nothing less than the scene from the movie Casablanca when Rick's place gets shut down for gambling -- "shocked! shocked, I tell you!" With Epstein gone, it's "dead men tell no tales." Things are brazenly out of control.
71
Not far fetched to imagine someone bribed prison guards to look the other way... just for a couple of hours....
30
I'm inclined to believe that within the prison system, Epstein was someone that no one would miss. So if you have a suicidal person with a desire to harm themselves, you give them space to do so.
7
This is an honest thought. Epstein was said to have sex three times a day. Is it possible that he died in his jail cell of "Auto Erotic Asphyxia" gone bad? The guy had some serious issues who knows?
15
This really sounds like he died of "something else" and the hanging was faked.
They really thought, at the time, and with the whole world watching, that they could get away with it.
Just like Khashoggi.
Lives of the Rich and Famous strikes again.
And whiffs it.
33
Just come out and state the brutal truth:
He was detained - and separated from his cell-mate for hours, if not days...
A mental picture of billionaires in cages...
Can't un-ring that bell...
(not that any of you would want to)
So - just imagine what de Blasio would do, if elected president...
PS
He doesn't have a clue - he'd be more surprised than Trump was...
2
Follow the money.....
11
Acosta gave immunity to all of the co conspirators. ( West Palm crowd). Yep...Trump is nervous. Remember him hovering over Acosta when he had to QUIT!!
36
Barr should appoint Mueller
10
In other news, the British tabloids are showing Prince Andrew going to Church with HRH Queen Elizabeth.
I well remember when Prince Andrew was known by the sobriquet "Randy Andy", and his wife Sarah Ferguson was in all the European magazines, with pics of her having her toes sucked on the beaches and swimming pools of Provence.
Trump. Epstein. Clinton. Andrew. Tip of the iceberg.
26
@Joe Miksis
Exactly! He was never going to make it to trial. He was dead man walking. This is global and huge.
13
@Joe Miksis: I'm sure a representative of M16 quietly reassured Queen Liz that 'all will be taken care of'. I was shocked to see a photo of Epstein in the Queen's box at Ascot and it was dated post his conviction so everyone knew who and what he was and yet there he was.
M16 arranged Epstein's 'suicide'.
1
“I was appalled, and indeed the whole department was, and frankly angry, to learn of the M.C.C.’s failure to adequately secure this prisoner”. Isn’t it the AG’s job to be aware of issues like this, especially when the union has been shouting it? The AG needs to perform a thorough review not just of the MCC, but of the whole DOJ.
31
@Al Barr was too busy since his appointment being Trump's political bagman to do the actual work of the AG on behalf of the country, focusing on drafting his misleading summary memo prior to releasing the Mueller report, and then working to prevent witnesses from testifying before Congress.
42
A) Two of the people that aided Jeff Epstein were Bill Clinton, and Donald Trump.
B) Barr is not going to continue investigating Trump and other billionaires who aided Jeff Epstein.
C) This is the clearest cut case of saying one thing but doing another as has ever existed in human history. Because if Barr DID launch such an investigation, it would put the most incredibly wealthy people in the crosshairs of justice since the French Revolution.
47
What does one even say? It’s inexcusable and inexplicable. So inexcusable and inexplicable that the conspiracy theories will last longer than he did.
27
If it walks like a duck, quacks like a duck, and looks like a duck then...
4
@Henry I hold fast to a conspiracy in this case even though the media discourages the thoughts of conspiracies for the sake of public trust in governance!
Looks like it is a policy of all counties to keep a shortage of staff. That makes sure there can be plenty of overtime awarded to the employees to keep them happy. Over-head of pensions, bureaucracy, and nepotism in hiring are all too common in almost all counties. We feel it only when a most despicable criminal makes an exit. However, this shortage of staff and other flaws in hiring policies have many repercussions in society.
7
I hate to tell you, many people are saying Attorney General William Barr can't be trusted to investigate the management of a federal agency when he is ultimately responsible for the management of that agency. SAD!
64
We don’t really know if what they are saying is accurate. I think the financials of the guards and their cell phones should be checked. No camera This action is very suspicious. Sounds like there was a plot to kill him and suicide is the coverup. Did any of these guards meet anyone with an English accent in last four weeks. If he failed at suicide once then why did this occur? Just not credible.
32
@Ralph Petrillo
Ralph, it has nothing to do with guards, it has to do with those high enough up to make decisions about one of the most important prisoners in the Federal prison system.
If it is true that Epstein attempted suicide previously, there should have been a guard surveilling Epstein 24/7.
Acosta, responsible for Epstein’s sweetheart “prison work” arrangement, which allowed Epstein to continue committing similar crimes, ends up as Trump’s Secretary of Labor, before being forced to resign as the sordid truth is exposed.
Barr, who became Trump’s Attorney General by auditioning for the role with an unsolicited essay quite favorable to Trump, is ultimately responsible for the conditions leading to Epstein’s death. Will he be forced to resign?
The whole Epstein mess, with all its cast of wretched characters, is a Trump story from beginning to end, and should be a fat part of the history of the Trump “Presidency.”
64
It's looking more like murder than suicide with each new revelation. He had too much dirt on too many powerful men to be allowed to give evidence.
52
Not even remotely surprised.
14
Yeah right. Epstein was one of the most publicized prisoners in history, with a tremendous amount of evidence against high officials at stake and William Barr is blaming the “staff” and overtime fatigue issues for his death? Uh, i don’t think so...
76
Out of all the deaths in federal prisons, now Barr gives a care? Barr has only one job, and that is be a loyal trump person. If he cared about suicides in federal prisons, he would have paid attention years ago
48
Watch Trump conveniently fire Barr now. He's of no use anymore.
13
The energy and the speed by which the AG, William Barr, is pursuing the Epstein suicide case is unusual, considering his casual and cavalier attitude with respect to the Mueller report, and his respect of our laws. He appears to be our Attorney General in the Epstein case, but the President’s Attorney in the Russia case.
William Barr is your true fixer.
44
Janet Reno was blamed for a madman's demise at Waco. Where is the outcry from Republicans that William Barr is responsible for this fiasco?
33
@Mary R In the prior administration, wearing a tan suit would get you a Sunday's worth of coverage on Fox News.
24
WHO wrote this script?
“We are now learning of serious irregularitiez-z-z at this facility that are deeply concerning and demand a thorough investigation . . . (Cue: table pounding, hand-wringing, rolling of eyes)
Right up there with the canned resignation speech which always includes, " . . . spend more time with the kids, get to know my partner again, write my memoirs, volunteer at the Veteran's home."
23
The buck stops with you Mr Barr. You are appalled. It is your. Job to know what is going on at prisons and to appoint the right people to do the job. You are appalled. Come on your dad was the first one to hire Epstein and you let him die under your watch. You should know better.
37
When Al Capone said "Capitalism is a legitimate racket run by Ruling Class" ( Joe Kennedy comes to mind for starters) I doubt not even he could have imagined the scale of Epstein's reach and satanic crimes over decadeswith powerful procurers and 'associates'.
In one of the most feared and secure prisons in America, (which recently housed El Chapo). cameras weren't working and there are part-time teachers/nurses etc acting as guards. He committed suicide. Yeh right.
The debt owed to the journalism of the Miami Times is inclaculable obviously.
Call me crazy, but I firmly believe the unravelling tipping point of this House of Cards has finally been reached, and I'm very confident that the very best of American journalism is going to uncover a tale no Hollywood movie could rival (except maybe one about a modern day Caligula taking his Empire down with him) that will shake your nation to it's very core.
As Monty Burns would say...'Release the hounds.'
48
One final comment: It seems that Barr is focusing on the little fishes such as the non credentials of one of the guards that were supposed to be looking in the cell. Mr. A.G. you need to be look much higher and possibly within your departments and other agencies of the federal government.
I'm not sure if an autopsy includes a toxoligy report but I'd like to know what kind of medications or poisons were in his system. If he was prescribed any anti-depressants or anti-anxiety drugs and if the amounts found were consistent with the dosage. In other words if the actual amount was 50 times than the dosage New York .... We have a problem.
I'm sure I'll be back tomorrow casting more doubt on this topic. For those who need a good movie to watch: I recommend The Manchurian Candidate starring Frank Sinatra. One of his better non-singing roles.
22
Of course they are going to blame the guards, the facility, the neighbors dog, the mailman, etc. No one will ever know the true story. Is he alive ? Was he executed ? The big fish will swim away and the secondary and supporting staff will take a fall. What a sad world we live in. Justice is dead.
55
Barr’s performance in rewriting the Mueller report was a 2 of 10. It is unlikely that it will improve on this thorny matter.
30
Barr is such an incompetent. could he not even learn to lie more convincingly?
15
@Creighton Goldsmith It's amazing how not caring about how history judges you can liberate a person.
6
The ONLY reason Barr is concerned about this is to make sure no one he is concerned about gets connected to this. I have no doubt “someone” made this happen, and it wasn’t Epstein. Or Clinton, even though the MAGA people seem to be convinced that’s the case.
38
@MorningInSeattle Why not Clinton...he was on Epstein's plane numerous times. Gov. Richardson, Sen. Mitchell, all democrats
Politics shouldn't have a role in pedophilia!
3
@MorningInSeattle If Epstein was blackmailing every person who had enjoyed sex, or was alleged to have, or might have had sex at his parties; Clinton, Trump, Wexler, Dershowitz, whomever, there is no shortage of people who would stand in line for a chance to get their hands on his throat. And no shortage of strings they could pull within the prison administration to get what they wanted.
12
Prison reform has been a hot topic for sometime but now the state department suddenly has the energy and juice to investigate? Something in Barr's statement that makes me feel like we are going to be taken by the hand and led down the path of distraction. I think a spin is underway to take the heat off the demands for the investigation into the truth surrounding Epstein, Clinton, Duke of York, Trump, Wexner, Dershowitz and unnamed others in positions of power who participated in sex trafficking and questionable financial dealings.
37
It's appears that Epstein committed the most serious, and most often fatal, crime of all: he knew too much.
59
Every article including Bob Barr talking about the problems at the jail needs to say front and center that he ultimately is responsible because the federal Bureau of Prisons is under the U.S. Department of Justice.
47
Will William Barr step down? Will his boss ask for his resignation? No and No.
22
Don't buy the idea that Epstein's secrets die with him.
There are co-conspirators who are being investigated.
They know A LOT.
They know who was there.
Then there are the women.
They know who was there.
Epstein's secrets are very much alive and knowable.
55
@EC
"Then there are the women.
They know who was there."
If that is true, then why hasn't one of them come forward?
1
@GMooG
They are talking with the police.
This is only just beginning.
2
Why should any money be wasted on investigating this? If some low income inmate had committed suicide we probably would never even made the news.
11
@uras This matters for all inmates of any income, and victims, insofar as it exposes truth. May it be so. Otherwise, our nation and world will become even more unjust, depraved, cynical and violent.
11
@TFB Does it really? I wish that were true. This country to becoming increasingly in your words, unjust, depraved, cynical & violent.
All we can hope is that this can be turned around, otherwise heaven help us.
My home has cameras, if Epstein was staying in my house he would still be alive. Are you kidding me? No cameras? No security? What a joke. And now Barr is “appalled”, really? This nightmare won’t end until Trump is gone.
69
So we have to assume that Epstein had children since he was obsessed with passing his genes on. Where are the children?
8
It's a good thing we're spending so many of our tax dollars to lock up those scary infants and toddlers who cross the border, because that's so much more important than paying for guards to watch actual criminals.
80
@Hools don't worry, the kids aren't locked up for very long. They get free trips to tropical islands in private jets.
@Hools They didn't want this guy watched. They wanted him gone before he talked.
1
“The practice has grown at some prisons as the Trump administration has curtailed the hiring of correctional officers.” Gosh, they just can’t help themselves trying to put any of this story on Trump. It’s getting a bit pathetic.
2
@F. Jozef K. Trump's in charge. It's under his watch so he owns it.
16
“Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man's character, give him power.” ....Abraham Lincoln was right - what are we doing with Daffy Duck and Mickey Mouse running the US???? People go vote. This is no time for Cartoons. This is real.
23
@MiamiNative It's a worthy statement, but not said by Abraham Lincoln.
2
Wait, why are they just now searching the island? Shouldn't that have been done when he was first arrested?...............
40
Barr calls this death suicide BEFORE the conclusion of the medical examiner. How does he know?
44
The Epstein Barr connection (it has been referred to as "virus" is so convoluted, even perverse and oh so familiar.
I had heard that AG Barr's father, wrote fiction and as headmaster of the Dalton School, an elite school for girls, hired the unqualified Epstein. Epstein was to have been transferred to Rikers, but AG Barr put the kibosh on that, wanting him to stay in the NY fed prison. Why?
Here is what Donald Barr's fiction is about:
"The plot of “Space Relations” is that ultra wealthy aliens, debauched and bored and unable to be satisfied by their riches, start to kidnap humans as sex slaves, transporting them into space to be given as illegal playthings of the super rich of the galaxy.”
What does Attorney General Barr know? How far, high, wide and deep does Epstein et. al. sex trafficking go?
28
One thing for sure, but Barr will cover Trump's part in all of this, if something is found about him! And we will never know it.
20
He was a coward who knew precisely what was waiting for him in prison.
8
he was a child molester. there is hatred for child molesters I'm prison culture. not surprised they probably allowed him to commit suicide seeing it as just desserts.
4
This is wolf crying foul ! So did he actually ordered his killing or was it his boss ? I am sure his investigation will « get to the bottom of this « !!!!!
5
If I were to sign onto a "conspiracy theory" about Epstein, it would not be that somehow Bill Clinton -- out of office since the 90s -- was somehow able to currently reach into and influence someone in the federal justice system to this degree.
Rather it would be that Trump was involved, since he is the current head of the U.S. justice system, with a lackey for an AG, and a life-long record of doing shady and illegal things. And someone who Epstein could "have something" on from palling around with him socially in the past.
Not saying I ascribe to this -- I don't. Just pointing out Trump's attempt to distract from the more obvious scenario, which would be Trump himself.
56
@Dan88 - The Clinton and Trump names are "shiny objects," distracting people from the much deeper questions about the source(s) of Epstein's wealth. Nobody seems to know, and parties have obviously gone to great length to preserve layers of secrecy. If there is a conspiracy, it's likelier to involve his investors than either the 42nd or 45th President.
6
@Ann T.: If there is a conspiracy, it involves M16, the British spy agency. The Queen had to have Epstein gone.
1
I can't help but feel like the AG is trolling all of us. He is in charge. The root causes - short staffing, lack of training, low morale - were known to him before this happened. Where is his sense of responsibility? No wonder conspiracy theorists are running wild here. He sounds like Renault "I'm shocked to find gambling going on here."
54
Suicide or murder? Hard to tell at this point, isn't it?
13
So; teachers and nurses are required to fill in as correctional officers at Federal prisons...Who is filling in for nurses and teachers? There is a critical shortage of both at federal and state prisons.
Unfortunately, most Americans don't care because it doesn't impact them personally; that is, they don't have loved ones incarcerated. But, it should alarm every American. We have the largest incarceration rate in the world: America at its finest.
19
No second guess or doubt needed. Oh .. high profile inmate and oops he was left unattended ??..
this not only stinks It screams high profile crime behind it and fbi better give publics the truth!...
12
William Barr. You would not be allowed to serve on a jury in the Epstein case.
Recuse yourself.
33
It would be in the Day diaries that guards must keep - noting their individual activities, hour by hour. Where was this guard for the two hours in question? But, of course this would have been taken care of. The risk of “sloppy note-taking” is minor in this situation and can be faubed off.
To really get the true story, fire the unit’s staff and the warden and his deputy. You will see some truth-telling then, everyone will start talking. Then the AG will really be appalled.
16
This is a sad state of affairs in our criminal justice system. It is good at least that the union has been complaining.
Barr needs to take some responsibility but doubt that he will since he is like Trump.
Our federal system is being hollowed out in many ways and some very dangerous outcomes are the result.
17
He had a lot of important policy information and There are times when silence is golden.
3
Who would trust an attorney general who believes that the president has dictatorial powers?
That belief is anti American.
33
What I don't understand is how Epstein knew that it was the perfect time to successfully commit suicide? He must have known that he would be left alone for an extended time period, that one of the guards was a substitute and lacked experience,and that he was off suicide watch and wouldn't be checked upon with regularity. It's akin to the perfect storm during which Epstein could take his life without interruption. How did he know that the timing was perfect? Something smells ... badly.
21
@Jeff Kohn: Let's not over-think this. He didn't need two hours. He would have figured a half an hour was time enough for what he wanted to do, and maybe he half-hoped he would be saved, and could parlay it into getting house arrest after all. Who knows what was going on in his mind, such as it was? The part about the experience or inexperience of the guards is irrelevant, it doesn't take much experience to yell for back-up. The one thing it shows is that whether it was him in particular, or prisoners in general, keeping him alive wasn't a high priority in our current federal prison system.
12
Underfunded staffing kind of reverses the blame game and turns it back up the chain of command.
14
I could not agree more. Correctional officer staffing and turnover is a tragedy that is routinely ignored. Many people want prisons but do not want to fund them so they are humane places that protect those inside and outside their walls. I suspect that unless one has a loved one incarcerated or working within a prison, most people do not even think about the people there.
7
We seem to have forgotten the salient maxim to never attribute to malice that which is adequately explained by stupidity.
It is interesting that many who do not trust the federal government to do anything right (from health care to mail delivery to name-your-project) find a conspiracy theory more plausible than the simple explanation that our jails are not run well and that inmate safety is not a priority.
22
Autopsy! CCTV! An honest man at the helm. We may never know the truth as long as the wolves are guarding the henhouse. If the truth does not come out, this country is lost.
10
In all of the articles I've read about this matter I've yet to see the name of the warden of this prison. Who is he/she? Why hasn't the name been disclosed?
12
@TWM Likewise, I've searched far and wide for the name of the chief psychologist at the prison. I can identify many past chiefs, but not the current one. Hmm.
7
In the video with this story, Mr Barr is reading a written statement by someone.
How do we believe that those are his sentiments? His face doesn’t seem to show those emotions!
4
Federal prisons (at least the ones that aren't Club Feds) have been notoriously understaffed for years, and the situation seems to have degenerated under Barr. What happened to "the buck stops here" and the heads of departments accepting blame for problems? I think Barr will simply use this "investigation" as an excuse for additional staff cuts in the BP and other federal justice agencies. We already know he'd love to eliminate the FBI.
7
Barr is the head of the Justice Department. His hiring freeze caused inadequate resources to the Federal Bureau of Prisons.
This resulted in Epstein’s death.
Barr should resign!
Small government makes for poor quality results.
The GOP is lining the pockets of the elite class by eliminating protections the government charged with providing us.
Trump and his lackey’s, like Barr, have financially choked the government into a pernicious anemic state.
20
@Dr. TLS ✅ yeah, that's what the US and the world needs, MORE government. How many MORE people do you want to have authority over YOU ?
It’s not the number of people, it’s their competency and ethics. Barr is sadly lacking in both.
As my late mother would’ve put it, anybody with one eye and half sense knew Jeffrey Epstein was a dead man walking. His clients wanted him dead, not least Barr’s boss. Ghislaine Maxwell’s in hiding because she’s next.
28
With the key witness in the criminal case now dead, how soon until William Barr, the president's (personal) attorney general, shuts down this investigation? More likely than not, there are as yet unnamed rich and powerful men who sexually assaulted the girls Epstein and his (uncharged) co-conspirators trafficked and whose identities Barr and the president must want concealed from the public.
8
Round up the usual suspects. Underlings will take the fall .... the buck will definitely not stop with Barr.
14
Barr has the face of a guilty man right there. I wouldn’t play any poker if I were him.
7
Who's the substitute? Paulie Gatto? Something doesn't smell right.
1
The lawyers for his victims are talking about suing his Estate.
That won't work.
From what I remember from my days practicing law, the Dead Man's Rule will prevent most of them from recovering. Note the cases of Ken Lay and Aaron Hernandez.
Maybe the victims who were part of his guilty plea can recover, if not time barred, for everybody else a recovery seems unlikely.
I'm thinking Epstein committed suicide as an act of spite, a one up on his accusers.
5
Apart from difficulties for his many victims in receiving some kind of recompense ( perhaps through civil avenues), what exactly is the problem here? He is gone, at his own hand, leaving presumably nobody on the planet sorry for his leaving.
Maybe somebody could calculate what the cost of all the trials he might have had, and find a way to provide that money, prorated across them all.
1
@KathyBecause the victims will never have their day in court which they are entitled to when he was alive. He goes to wherever he goes to after death and their stories are left to hang.
4
>>> ". . . what exactly is the problem here?"
Well, one of the really serious problems here is that what Jeffrey Epstein knew about others who may have been involved in the crimes he was alleged to have committed has died with him.
Also, of course, we don't actually know how he died, at least not yet.
11
Substitutes usually do a better job than regular employees.
2
Very strange...rich, powerful men could have been in big trouble if Epstein talked. The ending is no surprise.
27
The lack of properly trained officers also endangers the lives of those who aren’t full-fledged CO’s.
I registered to do volunteer work at Rikers (12-step recovery meetings). During the safety part of orientation, one officer shared multiple instances of cell mates attacking and injuring visitors - graduate students, therapists, etc. - as well as video footage. It was an eye-opener, to say the least.
All in all, the hiring freeze is a major detriment to the prison environment.
22
Given the high profile political nature of this, with everyone in sight having a potential conflict of interest, a special investigator is warranted, and I'm not sure where we'd get one.
Everyone involved officially had to know this was the highest profile prisoner in ages, under extreme threat of both suicide and murder.
And yet, riddled with irregularities.
19
Attorney General Barr misrepresented the Mueller Report. Does Mr. Barr really believe that most Americans will find any investigation headed by him to be credible?
62
@Janet I take your point, but Barr will not lead the investigation. He has called for it, but it will be performed by others. i imagine the Bureau of Prisons has its own Inspector General.
4
Isn't Attorney General William P. Barr in charge of the federal prison system?
And isn't the main problem of short staffing due to the under funding that has resulted from years of Republican-urged cutbacks to public services? Why do the wealthiest get billions in tax breaks while our public services dependent on those taxes dwindle and dwindle?
If AG Barr is angry, tell him to look in the mirror.
76
Mr. Barr will not see his reflection in a mirror, as is typical for his ilk. Meanwhile, Barr's own father hired Epstein as a high school math teacher at a swanky NYC private school, even though Epstein was not a credentialed and trained teacher and in fact not even a college graduate. perhaps Epstein was not his real name; maybe it was Svengali.
5
I generally do not give much credence to conspiracy theories, but I can’t help wondering about this case. Suicide? With so many irregularities? I believe it’s possible he could have been silenced to protect important people. ...even perhaps MORE than possible.
48
And there was no camera surveillance?
No $25 security camera from Amazon?
No video tape of the gruesome event?
Not even a baby monitor?
And we are supposed to believe this?
This isn’t conspiracy, it is lunacy
207
Agree, it’s stupid. Just like everything else about this administration. I feel like we are living with a dumb Darth Vader at the helm. Every. Single. Day.
23
Of course: the highest profile prisoner in the US was left alone after trying "suicide" already, the procedure of checking on him was not followed, his cell mate was transferred. All of it was is coincidence. And I’m Kayzer Soze.
58
Convenient suicide. Someone was paid off, doubt it was the one who will end up taking the fall for it.
27
It's Mueller time again!
16
Since Epstein died in a Federal Prison, managed by DOJ, headed by AG William Barr, whose Boss is President Trump,
Barr is known to have conflict of interest. So Mr. Barr and the whole chain of command should recuse themselves.
Need a special Prosecutor appointed by House Judiciary Oversight Committee reporting directly to them,
2
@Jerry Farnsworth
Save the expense! Here is the mueller report on this one:
Donald trump did not , not have a role In Epstein’s suicide. I did however, find 20 people with close association to trump guilty of various crimes along with Epstein and their testimony under oath was redacted by the attorney general.
2
CONSPIRACY! When I saw the photo, the day before the suicide, of the young girl that was supposedly a sex slave of Epstein's standing next to PRINCE ANDREW, I was actually shocked by that photo. Then we heard - SURPRISE! - about allegations against Bill Richardson and George Mitchell which also shocked me - of all people I wouldn't have expected their names to come within miles of this debauched case. NOW - after already haven given a warning of suicide 2 weeks ago - Epstein's dead and Bill Barr is "appalled". SORRY FOLKS, this stinks of a conspiracy to cover up serious crimes not only of Epstein but of many other high profile people. Outrageous.
58
Sure, what a coincident. God help our country.
23
One of his guards died too?
3
@ej cullen Where did you get this idea?
1
"...The officials did not say what sort of job the other employee usually worked..."
Uhhh.. is it Hitman???
27
The classic hanging by bedsheet, no doubt tied to a fire sprinkler pipe. How original. Why not just put a gun in his cell for convenience. Now someone has to wash that sheet.
11
He was whisked away to his private island. MAGA is Italian for "witch".
5
@Grownupmedia
Wrong translation, no surprise -- means Trump returns in 2020. Hollywood already in pain working on even more Cultural Marxist propaganda scripts for the fall. De Niro productions doing majority of financing?
Those in power, see us all as mere insects, which can be manovered towards their collective webs that they spin.
Now, swift reactions to changing circumstances very often wins the engagement(s)! We must all keep at it until the real reason epstein died and who was behind it all. It appears as those in power took a lesson from that saudi prince!
37
Dollars for doughnuts. The faux guard can not be found
18
Epstein was being held on SDNY charges so why was he in a Federal Prison?
14
@Zac
Because the SDNY is part of the DOJ/Federal government
2
@Zac: Because "SDNY" is a *federal* judicial district.
1
Why is the Attorney General more concerned about the lack of accountability in the Epstein case, than he is with its absence in the Executive and Legislative branches of our government?
“Any co-conspirators should not rest easy,” Mr. Barr said. “The victims deserve justice and they will get it.”
Does this include "un-indicted co-conspirator #1" - or any of the other political bystanders purporting to be politicians (i.e. cowardly Republicans and clueless Democrats)?
When will Americans get "justice" from our broken political parties?!
32
And how about the rape case against Epstein and Trump? Will that be resumed?
2
In cases like this where the inmate has previously tried to kill himself a CONTINUOUSLY monitoring camera should be in the cell that anyone with a pair of eyes can observe every couple of minutes.
You do not need a full fledged CO to do this.
The BOP evidently did not do this.
Why not?
Was Epstein hanged [suicide or homicide] with something that should not have been in cell.
Was that something that should never be in the cell for any [suicidal or not ] prisoner.
Are there things that should be excluded for just suicidal prisoners.
It seems to me the main fault in this case is not lack of trained CO's but not using procedures [continuous monitoring and excluding from the cell anything that could be used for suicide] that could prevent ALL suicides.
Were such procedures in place but not followed in this case or do they need to be instituted so deaths like this do not occur.
8
They will answer that after this first attempt at suicide, he was given 2 or 3 psych evaluations and was found to be stable and normal. You can bet these prison psychiatrists got at least $20K a piece for the evaluations. This is not hard! THE AG will kick up a fuss for awhile, then when the public shifts attention, he will report Epstein’s suicide by negligence on the part of temporary staff. Case closed.
6
@Lynn0 Psychiatrists and psychologists don't get paid for these evaluations. It's part of their job descriptions.
2
Mr. Barr's purview is the jail in which Jeffrey Epstein killed himself. It's his fault that there was not adequate guarding of Epstein. Don't any of these people take responsibility? I can answer that question.
26
Lately, when I read an interesting article, I see it is like as not written by Ali Watkins. She started out under a cloud, but she is a good writer/reporter!
7
“I was appalled, and indeed the whole department was, and frankly angry, to learn of the M.C.C.’s failure to adequately secure this prisoner,” Mr. Barr said at a conference in New Orleans for the Grand Lodge Fraternal Order of Police.
I suggest William Barr state how 'appalled' and 'frankly angry' he is about Epstein's apparent suicide while in Federal custody before an audience of sex trafficker Epstein's victims.
'Frankly angry,' Mr. Barr?
34
@TFB Agreed. As the country’s “top law enforcement officer” (hyperbolic nonsense, but OK) isn’t Barr ultimately responsible, and therefore accountable? But have no fear, some low-level schnook (to use NYC terminology) will be the scapegoat.
18
@TFB: If the suggestion is that Epstein's victim's wouldn't be upset about his death, there may well be some of that feeling, but also I think many were looking forward to seeing him in court, openly accused and convicted. And he might have given information about his collaborators. I think the problem with this death as most people see it isn't that the guy is gone, but that he took an easy way out, and cheated his victims and the rule of law.
1
I don’t doubt this was something other than a suicide, executed to insure secrets stay hidden, but the POTUS base has shown over and over again that nothing can turn them away from their new god. So, wasted effort.
23
I love how the people who created this situation now want to crucify others for it. That jail is by all accounts an underfunded nightmare. They're working stiffs handed a rubik's cube with pieces missing.
Guess who caused that situation?
47
No one is buying Barr's bull.
53
Shouldn’t Bill Barr recuse himself from this investigation since in yet another twist in the story, it was Bill Barr's father who gave Epstein his first job? As a non-degreed teacher at the Dalton School. Giving him easy access to young girls. Just asking. Like the president.
69
Barr is in charge of federal prisons. The prison is short staffed because the Trump administration has cut back on hiring. Staffing may have played a part. I knew there would be reason to blame Trump.
17
For starters- how about answering a simple question- how did he died? What was the exact nature of his demise? Seems we can't get that answered, never mind that how about talking about the BIG problem of sex trafficking - which Epstein and G. Maxwwell and others were clearly part of and how about bringing them in to answer for this,instead seems like being swept under rug because possibly rich and famous & powerful would be uncovered.
12
Does Ambassador Barr or Supreme Court Justice Barr sound better? After all, Alex Acosta got a Cabinet position for the first Epstein cover-up. Barr has certainly earned more, first burying the Mueller report and now taking full control of the second cover-up.
37
@Sal A. Shuss
I'm with you. I think AG Barr is auditioning for the Supreme Court.
3
Reading of Barr’s “outrage” is anyone else reminded of Claude Rains in Casablanca accepting his gambling earnings while exclaiming “I’m shocked, shocked!”? This corrupt circus just gets bigger and bolder. Trump and Barr’s own father are known associates of Epstein. How can Barr possibly be allowed to lead an investigation? It’s ludicrous.
36
@Maribeth Edmonds Absolutely! Was my first thought! Shocked! I am shocked. Wink wink.
1
And the Oscar goes to Atty General William Barr for his supporting "apalled" role in Epsteins "Death by Suicide?".
50
@MiamiNative -0 "Appalled"-- typo
1
Everything that happens is now the theatre of the absurd. You really can't make this stuff up.
27
@Sharon Dinsmore It’s why I’ll be glad when the asteroid takes us out.
3
And who is going to investigate Barr?
40
@mivogo
Like it would make any difference? The buck stops with him, but is anyone going to call him on that? Seeping further and further down in the swamp!
8
Clarification please: Just why is Trump's fixer William P. Barr so very interested in investigating the "failures" of the system? Not to minimize the harm cause by Epstein, but did the U.S. A.G. jump in to investigate Charles Manson? Oh... right, President Ford wasn't Charlie's "pal". William Barr you set this record straight!!!! No Collusion!
17
@NotSoCrazy
Barr is investigating this because Epstein died in a federal prison, which is under the ultimate control of the DOJ and AG. The AG did not jump in to investigate Charles Manson because Manson, unlike Epstein, was charged with state, rather than federal, crimes.
2
I am confused aren't paying as little as possible, poor conditions, lax supervision, with little or no unnecessary burdensome regulations a Republican utopia for prisons, schools, and agencies?
28
@Marie
Yes. But Dems are opposed to this because most prison inmates are valued members of the Democratic base. This is why the Dems are pushing so hard to restore voting rights to convicted felons; they want the votes!
2
I can’t believe that Barr didn’t ensure from the get go that Epstein was being monitored. I am shocked that he never personally intervene to ensure that this kind of thing would have never happened.
13
@Paul in NJ
'personally' intervene, lol.
8
@Paul in NJ
I think it’s likely that Barr *did* personally intervene.
20
@Prodigal Son More likely paid someone else to intervene. Is he really dead? Or perhaps he was spirited away to his island in exchange for NOT squealing about all the important people who would be negatively impacted (read 'prison') by any testimony he'd give. I'm not much for conspiracy theories, but this is beyond absurd.
4
For those of you who remember the movie "Casablanca", there is a scene where the corrupt head of the police (actor Claude Raines) enters Humphrey Bogart's bar and is "shocked" to see that gambling is taking place. Barr's being "appalled" has a familiar ring to it.
38
And where was Trump that night?
20
Tell me again, why did Barr insist that Epsteiin be held in a federal jail?
33
@Bigsister
ummm, because he is a federal prisoner charged with federal crimes.
As the nation's top law enforcement official, doesn't the buck stop at BARR himself?
33
Yes, that's why he's looking for the underling to blame for this.
12
@nigel cairns - and ultimately with the man to whom Barr reports. Of course, these men have spent their lives deflecting responsibility for anything.
6
The buck never stops in this administration. Just keep up.
5
Ali, Katie, Danielle, well done, Stalwarts, well done.
9
Do you, liberal Democrats, still want the feds providing everyone’s health care? This is the level of healthcare a suicidal person gets when under the supervision of federal employees—nothing!
4
@NYC Mama yes
16
So are you saying that the administration is purposefully cruel and inhumane? If you hire only the best people how can this happen? Unless you want it to, that is.
19
Completely unrelated attempt at diversion. Not enough Correction Officers is the fault of the management. And who would that be?
12
Why is a non officer even working there anyway? More information should be coming in about this. Who knows if he was a security risk or not?
13
One wonders when that non-officer was recruited!
2
Barr acts as if he doesn’t oversee the Federal Bureau of Prisons. He is ultimately responsible, no matter what he says.
44
Nothing about child molestor Epstein death makes sense. He was supposed to be in one of the most secure prisons in the US, yet it seems that “irregularities” were purposely carried out. Even if Epstein and his attorneys had requested he moved out of “suicide watch”, he had no power to demand it. Still, they removed him and now we find out he wasn’t being watched at all. So, was it suicide or murder? This is another example of how NYC operates and who owns it. They’re destroying this country, while amassing fortunes and leaving 90% of the nation destitute. In an act of irony, there’s probably some genius writer developing a script for the movie.
Meanwhile back in the Hamptons, real estate billionaire (aren’t they all) Stephen Ross had a Trump re-election fund raising on Friday. Why are these guys protecting Trump and want him in power?
37
..@Ted. Don’t blame NYC for this mess. Barr is carrying on like the Bureau if Prisons doesn’t report to him..it does.
19
NYC does not operate Federal prisons.
7
Time to fire the cabinet secretary with ultimate oversight. Losing high-value prisoners is a bad look.
19
Barr is good at poker face and I believe would be perfect at a complete coverup, as he has the smarts to make it happen. With his background (I also heard that he, deputy attorney general, Jeffrey Rosen, senior partner Jay Lefkowitz who negotiated that sweetheart deal for Epstein, Ken Starr, Harvard law professor Alan Dershowitz, as well as Roy Black, Gerald Lefcourt, and former U.S. Attorney Guy Lewis all worked at Kirkland and Ellis during the corrupt Epstein scandal in Florida), and track record, I trust him not an inch.
It seems to me, lawyers and ex-lawyers of Kirkland and Ellis (in fact Dershowitz was named as one of the abusers), all need to "recuse" from the Epstein case.
Why Barr is leading this effort is beyond me.
This administration is rotten to the core.
92
And Kirkland & Ellis represented Russia’s Alfa Bank and Russian oligarchs including Deripaska (who paid Manafort to help Putin) who was taken off the sanctions list and now has a $million contract in McConnell’s Kentucky.
16
@Radha
There is rotten, then there is 13 year old girl raped rotten. Our administration including Trump and his attorney Allen Dershowitz are named as customers of Epstein. One of the biggest blows in the decade-plus case of Jeffrey Epstein came on Friday when a federal court unsealed documents from a lawsuit by one of Epstein’s accusers against his mysterious girlfriend Ghislaine Maxwell. Virginia Giuffre accused Maxwell of procuring young girls for sexual abuse by Epstein and his powerful friends. The more than 2,000 pages of documents provide the greatest details yet on allegations against Epstein, including eye-popping claims involving some of the world’s most famous men, allegations of sex slaves, and more.
7
@Debbie
Do you have news articles or any references re: McConnell and Deripaska and Alfa bank?
If this had been almost any other inmate, it would ultimately drifted into time as just another jail cell suicide and the Trump administration would have gotten away with another destructive policy in the "deconstruction of the administrative state." Because it involved a high level inmate, Trump's amazing management skills are highlighted once again. His pathetic attempt to shift focus to the Clinton's is part of a continuing pattern of trying to elude responsibility for anything for which he is ultimately responsible.
40
Does anyone else feel insulted that whoever killed Epstein thinks we will just take in stride that he tried to commit suicide on 7/23 and was taken off suicide watch on 7/29??? That is absurd. There can be little doubt that at the very least, his opportunity to commit suicide was orchestrated....
42
@John I heard that his brother flew over from Sicily and attended the arraignment before flying right back.
1
Wasn’t Barr the one who moved Epstein from a city jail to a federal prison? Do those accused of sexual assault usually get incarcerated in federal prisons? If not, why did Barr move him, and to an understaffed prison at that? Barr should resign or get fired.
67
@On the coast
Easy enough, to dispatch epstein, then blame other's, and have the news over and over to give out that he committed suicide! He may have, but we'll never know now, what with barr!
What, 45 has been telling us for a couple of years that the news if false
2
He gets rewarded with a supreme court nomination next year.
1
"apparently". right.
5
Hard NOT to think that Epstein’s successful suicide is very suspicious. The CCT surveillance cameras aren’t understaffed, right? Their videos should put that ugly thought to rest........
25
Whoever has done this...
...had an inmate kill Epstein....or who knows what....
you have not silenced the women.
During the 2016 campaign, Trump was sued by an anonymous woman who claimed he raped her at an Epstein party when she was 13 years old. The accuser withdrew her lawsuit shortly before the election.
All I can hope is that such women are still coming forward, telling their stories and picking pedophiles from photo lines up - royalty, world leaders, billionaires, hollywood elites........
..
47
Do you really think a victim raped by a FOE would live to file a complaint? Think, what are we doing here but ruminating on the implications of this guy’s sudden, unintended death.
2
@Lynn0
That is my point.
Just say there is foul play in Epstein's death....and I am not saying there definitely is....they cannot kill all the indicted associates of Epstein or the women.
People are still going to talk.
@EC After his "untimely" death women will be afraid to come forward. He was high profile. They are not. Who would investigate their deaths? Barr? This is the dirtiest administration of my life and I am 71 years old. I can't wait for it to be over but rotten apples will still be there.
Who cares? Get on with better stories, like the Youth Climate Council!!
3
What an actor! Is this not a federal prison overseen by the DOJ? Is this guy not the head of the DOJ? Was he not aware of all the famous names connected to this prisoner who were set to be unsealed last Friday? Perhaps preparing for the demise of this prisoner by having his suicide watch ended, hoping to shut down further investigation into these famous fellows? Is this somewhat like the dissidents in Russia mysteriously falling ill and/or dying just as they're about to publish embarrassing or incriminating information about the Putin government? Brothers Grimm, move over - you have been topped.
31
Short staffed this is not that unusual. Often inmates ask for a guard for assistance help questions and are routinely ignored. Officers dont think of inmates as people. They routinely dont do their job. Overworked? From doing what sitting around making small talk and counting people all day?
11
I hope this incident doesn't move the Trump DOJ to go back to privatizing fed. facilities. They are way worse than this and rarely held accountable for negligence. That said, corrections work is difficult, can be high burn out, and under staffing is negligent. If there was nothing fishy, Barr/Trump should be held accountable for this death and start hiring. Moreover, we really should be focused on the "routine" inmates who are often subject to degrading treatment. Was MCC the facility that had no power for a week or so this past winter?
16
I have faith in you A.G. Barr. Please bring the guilty to justice.
1
@Fred
What exactly leads you to have faith in Barr? He had a good reputation , but that has been damaged by his blatant obsequious actions in blind support of Trump as opposed to maintaining appropriate separation.
22
@Fred Including those Mueller could not exonerate?
4
@Fred Sarcasm appreciated!!!!! You Go Fred :)
3
Barr’s father gave Epstein a teaching job at an exclusive private school when Epstein didn’t even have a college degree...hmmm
Barr’s law firm defended Epstein when Epstein got the easy sentence for sex abuse....hmmm
Now, under Barr’s leadership, US law enforcement failed to follow procedures that would have prevented Epstein ‘s death, whether it was suicide or not....hmmm
Right below this article on the home page is another article talking about Epstein having told a Times writer that he knew secrets about powerful people...hmmm
Now Barr will investigate Epstein ‘s death...hmmm
Don’t you wonder who the powerful people are?
178
@Franco51 Recommend times 1000. Barr investigating pretty much anybody is a farce.
29
If anybody reading this article believes anything about the AG's response to the latest feather in his cap (the most recent being his mishandling of the Mueller case) on his way to the next on the Supremes, there's a bridge in Brooklyn waiting for you.
29
@Guido Malsh right
2
Bill Barr's most important responsibility is to protect Trump. If Epstein would have said something harmful about Trump then Barr would have continued to protect Trump, one way or another. Regardless of what Bill Barr did or not do, he has played a big part in eroding the confidence of Americans in their institutions.
49
@Elinor You Up 1000! Barr's a fraud and a fixer.
4
The possibility that Epstein's death was anything other than suicide didn't occur to me until Trump claimed that the Clintons were involved. If Trump had appeared shaken, appalled, sincere--the nation would have wanted to believe that his reaction was genuine, even though a substantial percentage of the population detests him. But he didn't, and we don't.
36
Mr Barr wants to look into possible irregularities at the jail with no comment about his complicity. The Dept of Justice was informed that Mr Epstein was coming of suicide precautions. Can you imagine a well organized department would fail to notify the head of the department about that decision? What did he do when he heard that the suicide precautions were being lifted?
19
Incredibly high-profile prisoner formerly on suicide-watch? Even the newest "substitute" teacher knows how to follow the lesson plan. Barr needs to find that lesson plan before it disappears.
18
@Alice's Restaurant
Find it? Barr wrote it.
15
@Chris
Get that off Twitter or front page of WP?
Has it occurred to Barr that it’s HIS prison facility? He’s accountable and responsible for the lack of leadership there as the head of the DOJ! His comments about being “appalled” and “angry” show that he does not understand this plain fact. Another Teflon bureaucrat.
29
We have a big case of Epstein-Barr.
47
@N Yorker, But this virus is attacking our Republic.
4
Isn't this pretty obvious this was a hit? Why so much shock and outrage by Barr et al? Am I missing something?
29
@Jane Bowles fully agree with you. that was my immediate reaction, and I am no expert on prison procedures or judicial ones. seems mighty fishy to me!!
11
@Jane Bowles
Seems what New York City bestows at will, it can also take away at will.
1
@Jane Bowles It’s faux shock and faux outrage, all part of the plan. He can conduct his investigation into the “guilty” parties to divert attention from an organized plan to off Epstein.
11
Is AG Barr somewhat pleased that any knowledge Epstein might have had of POTUS, died, apparently by suicide with Epstein. But, to look extra concerned about protecting the victims, as opposed to POTUS (which Barr has been accused of more than once), is now making an extraordinary show of demanding a thorough investigation, including updates every three hours?
17
It is quite clear that, over the decades, Jeffrey Epstein procured underage girls for sex parties at this mansion in New York, his Caribbean island, his property in Florida and his ranch in New Mexico.
It is also clear that, over the decades, many very wealthy misogynists went to those parties as guests of Mr. Epstein.
None of these 'guests' wanted to be outed at Mr. Epstein's upcoming trial. Most of these 'guests' had huge sums of money that could be applied to take care of arrangements at Manhattan Correctional Center, to make sure that Mr. Epstein could 'commit suicide'.
Now Attorney General William Barr is "appalled", and is rounding up the usual suspects. All in plain sight.
56
'they regularly compel teachers, nurses, secretaries and other support staff members to step in. '
I am utterly gobsmacked by this. On what planet does one train a nurse or teacher to step in as a prison officer?
I expected reports on understaffing and under-resourcing of prisons, but not this. Reminds me of when they wanted to arm teachers to address school shootings.
Does your administration no longer have the faintest idea how civilised societies operate?
49
@Derval Welcome to GOP America.
12
This is the end result of YEARS of starving federal institutions like prisons, the post office and public schools, all with a focus on privatization. This is a place so horrible to work - they couldn't get enough people to staff it properly. Our entire prison system is repulsive. We know subhuman brutality exists there daily and we do nothing about it. This is all a disgusting debacle all around but as for Epstein: this must be blamed squarely on Barr, Trump and Republicans.
38
@KLSD
I do not agree. Yes all of your observations regarding the disgusting state of our penal system are correct. However Jeffery Epstein's death is the result of a few months planning by those who could not allow him to testify. Job accomplished. A couple low level officers will take the fall and retire rich men for keeping their mouths shut. No collusion, it's was just a witch hunt. No move along folks, nothing to see her. Close the case Barr.
23
Why is President Trump’s Attorney General Barr inserting himself into a case of a friend of the President? Barr should recuse himself since both he and his father have had relationships with Barr.
44
@Javaforce
exactly!
9
@Javaforce Plus, Barr's father, Donald hired Epstein when he was the headmaster at the Dalton school.
11
@Javaforce It's EXACTLY what he was hired to do, of course!
5
Not a bad thing that the country will be spared the lurid details of an Epstein trial on a daily basis.
The important news is our dysfunctional administration.
9
@Pat Boice
So it’s ok with you if his victims don’t get to confront Epstein? Hard to believe . . .
13
Face it folks, when it comes to dealing with so-called professionals, from walking into a Dr.’s office, to being admitted to a hospital, to winding up in prison, in the United States of 2019, we are essentially on our own!!! PS Where are the ombudsman’s?!
18
Bill Barr was appointed the Attorney General of the U.S. by the President after writing an opinion that a President cannot be indicted while in office.
Bill Barr provided a false narrative to the U.S. public on the Mueller Report stating, contrary to Mueller himself, that Trump did not obstruct justice.
Bill Barr’s father hired Epstein, now known to be a convicted sex offender, for a teacher’s position at the private school Barr ran. Epstein had no qualifications to teach.
There is video evidence that Trump not only knew Epstein but partied with him frequently. Trump has confirmed that he knew Epstein and knew that Epstein liked very young girls. It has been confirmed that Trump was a frequent visitor to the Epstein property and travelled on Epstein’s private jet.
Trump has been accused of sexually assaulting 20 women, including a rape documented in the divorce papers with his first wife.
A woman provided, in detail, in a supposition when Trump announced he was running for the Presidency in 2015, that she was raped by both Epstein and Trump when she was 13. She received death threats and withdrew her charges.
Epstein was subsequently found dead in his cell in August after a previous "suicide attempt". Cause of death was unknown, but Barr immediately said it was suicide and blamed the guards.
There is something very rotten at the DOJ.
62
@Abruptly Biffa
and yet the Christian right turn a blind eye, still, to Trump and his cronies. Why is any of the above OK with them??? It's abhorrent.
16
@Abruptly Biff Do you think Trump was actually thinking a couple of steps ahead when he brought Barr into the DOJ?
8
@Tom
Trump brought Barr in to defuse the Mueller report. Barr has taken care of a few other legal problems for Trump behind the scenes. This is just a bonus.
1
Trump quickly responded upon news of Epstein's death as if he were on a watch. Who was at the Southampton meeting with Trump, what was said, did Epstein know those there, and why did he die later that night.
10
No they’re not. Anybody who works anywhere knows exactly what happened. This jail, like many workplaces in the country, has fallen prey to coat-cutting which has negatively affected its work. To say people are just now learning of irregularities is of course wishful thinking. The people who make the policies that fund these places understand that their budgeting has negatively affected many such places. It’s that bottom-end philosophy. You find it everywhere, even in the military etc etc. everywhere people and organizations are cutting corners and risking their missions!
25
And you think it was just a random coincidence that no regular procedures were followed for Epstein In jail?
To quote Ilhan Omar "it's all about the Benjamin's" or as Mark Felt "Deep Throat" said " Follow the Money".
31
July 8, 2019, William Barr "“I’m recused from that matter because one of the law firms that represented Epstein long ago was a firm that I subsequently joined for a period of time,” Barr told reporters in Southern Carolina.
August 11, 2019. William Barr "We'll get to the bottom of what happened".
Anyone feel confident?
We sink deeper and deeper
56
@Paul Lief
Barr is good at poker face and I believe would be perfect at a complete coverup. With his background (I also heard that he, deputy attorney general, Jeffrey Rosen, senior partner Jay Lefkowitz negotiated that sweetheart deal for Epstein, Ken Starr, Harvard law professor Alan Dershowitz, as well as Roy Black, Gerald Lefcourt, and former U.S. Attorney Guy Lewis), and track record, I trust him not an inch.
It seems to me, lawyers and ex-lawyers of Kirkland and Ellis (in fact Dershowitz was named as one of the abusers), all need to "recuse" from the Epstein case.
Why Barr is leading this effort is beyond me.
This administration is rotten to the core.
20
The buck stops at the top.
21
If you listen carefully you can almost hear the sound of dozens of young women crying out in rage or sobbing unconsolably due to years of abuse when they were younger and more vulnerable. This is unmistakably the most vile thing that a man can do to a woman and it makes me sick knowing that there are those who feel that being wealthy or famous (like our president) entitles you to treat women as nothing more than a means of satisfying an inch or a feeling of satiety. As a christian I do believe that everything happens for a reason and even evil has a purpose in the greater scheme of things. My faith allows for miracles and deliverance but it also allows for immeasurable acts of violence and wickedness. According to my faith hateful mobs crucified an innocent man on a cross and at another moment in time a madman was allowed to attempt an extermination of an entire race in concentration camps. If any of Jeffrey Epstein's victims are reading this message know that God is with you in your pain. Also know that one day judgment and accountability will be administered upon all those who choose to use their power to torment and oppress others regardless of how much money or influence they possess. I would definitely not want to be Mr Epstein right now. I have a very strong feeling that his death was not the end of his troubles. It was just the beginning...
5
Why do we care? The man was a monster.
2
@Lisa
We care because there are government officials who are involved; and young women who were harmed by this monster.
28
Trump used to party with Epstein, that is why. Clinton too. I say take them both down and who ever else
1
Barr’s dad hired Epstein. Barr Jr. might have known or met him. How is he not in conflict?
35
"Union officials said that for more than a year officials in Washington had been made aware of a severe staffing shortage at the facility in the wake of a federal hiring freeze."
Attorney General William Barr, who oversees the Bureau of Prisons: Gosh, it seems the MCC is poorly managed. Let's find out who's to blame.
Considering that this so-called administration has cut funds to the BOP -- they clearly prefer private prisons because the GOP receives kickbacks in the form of campaign donations -- the mystery of why the MCC is operating on a shoe-string budget shouldn't be too hard to unravel.
36
It’s incredible that the reasons given for the debacle can be attributed to a single, poor, out of luck person when the stakes are so high for some rich and powerful individuals. Do they have all the luck in the world?
The story is not credible.
32
Things without all remedy
Should be without regard:
what's done, is done.
— Lady Macbeth
There are no remedies. There will be none.
11
The guard was a "substitute" who didn't usually work as a correctional officer.
This somehow reminds me of the scene in "The Untouchables" with the fake cop in the elevator - and the aftermath.
21
Epstein held the sexual and other secrets (some gleaned from video cameras hidden in Epstein’s digs) of some the most powerful people in the US and the world. Suddenly we learn this likely suicidal man was left unmonitored in his cell. How much money does it take to bribe a retinue of security guards or their bosses? Who among the rich and powerful are benefiting from Epstein’s untimely “surprise” death?
59
The deposition given by Virginia Roberts Giuffre (his 'sex slave' for a number of years) that was part of the sealed documents, which was unsealed on Friday- available for the public to read online- show her testimony stating she learned, and was embarrassed to learn he had been watching her on hidden cameras at all times (including in the bathroom) during her time as his sex slave (roughly two years) She also travelled internationally with him on a 6 week trip during this time (presumably to service his friends). If he had hidden camera's watching all the girls, at all times, in all his digs, then there's likely footage of his high-profile friends with his 'masseauses'. If he was really the vouyer he revealed himself to Giuffre to be (he flat out told her he had been watching everything she did for two years- I highly suggest reading her depo) then imagine the sheer amount of content somewhere in a cache.
2
This was more serious than negligence of duty. The outcome was more than the death of an indicted sex offender, it was the death of the most crucial witness in a disgusting case that could involve international accomplices.
Epstein's "suicide" should not let these people off the hook. If anything, it should raise new questions about how far up this crime could go. Barr is not the likeliest person to conduct an inpartial investigation.
67
Are all federal prison facilities run this way?
4
@M Davis
No, only the ones where there's a person who can expose the POTUS.
17
The crazy conspiracy theories over a supposed not suicidal is extremely disheartening for this Psychiatrist. Epstein had multiple risk factors- incarceration (pre trial risk is several times greater than after sentencing), male, non-Catholic, white, over age 60, and prior attempt.
To delve into crazy conspiracy theories is to discredit the suicide epidemic both inside and out of correctional facilities. It discredits the suffering of those who attempt as well as the families of those that attempt or complete suicide.
10
@D The biggest risk factor for Jeffrey Epstein was what he knew and who he knew it about.
14
@D I think you need some more continuing education courses on current events and how they affect the morals, values and psychological health of all the people that live in this country. Open your mind to the reality of today and the uniqueness of each person's method to manage their anxiety, Suicide/murder must now be redefined. Keep up with the times Dr. " The Times they are a changing."
5
@D
I attempted suicide in my 20s as the result of a sexual attack. Please do not choose to speak on my behalf. The suffering I struggled through 30 years ago is matched now by witnessing the collapse of democracy, the destruction of a planet, and, least important, the very convenient “suicide” of a rotten man who knew the depraved secrets of other rich and powerful men.
9
Mr. Barr is ultimately responsible for Epstein's death. As the AG, Barr is responsible for federal law enforcement. No wonder he wants to assign blame somewhere, anywhere but to his own poor oversight of this facility.
45
@Barbara
Oh Barbara, give Attorney Generalissimo Barr a break. How can he have time to oversee the federal prison system while working 24/7 for the man in White House without even being paid overtime?
14
Barr is hopelessly compromised in this matter. Not only is his credibility shot from his previous Iran-Contra and Mueller affairs, but he has an irresolvable familial conflict of interest insofar as it was Barr senior who hired the college dropout Epstein to teach at the Dalton School.
How did that work out for the young women of Dalton? Exactly.
Impeach Barr Now.
63
These cells don't have CCTV???
Are you kidding me?
The cells are checked every 12 hour,meaning they are not dependably checked.
The next thing we will hear is there is no CCTV covering all the hallways, allowing people to check who walked them prior to the "suicide".
Yet another case in why having government run anything and expecting excellence is a fools errand.
11
Given that Epstein was among the highest profile of prisoners, it’s surprising it would be S.O.P. at the jail. Understaffing and all. The feds at the highest level of DOJ should have made certain personnel was brought in, if necessary, to guard Epstein.
Contrary to Reagan, government isn’t the problem. It’s the chronic underfunding. This outcome is utterly predicable. Barr should resign, the Trump AND Bush tax cuts should be repealed. The anti-tax zealots should be voted out. (Ben Sasse is an utter hypocrite.)
23
How high was the ceiling of the cell?
With what rope did he hang himself?
What did he stand on to reach whatever it was that he used to hang himself?
Why are no media outlets asking these questions?
32
Accountability?
Blame Trump and Jeff Sessions for the hiring freeze.
Do you dare to come out and say that, William Barr?
I thought not.
Great Patriot!
20
AG William Barr should express SHAME for this occurrence.
15
The Trump Administration--the most deeply incompetent in history. It's frightening how horribly run this country is--shameful!
28
So now Trump is inferring that Bill Clinton might have orchestrated Epstein's death. Who has more control over a Federal prison than Trump? Now that Trump's personal lawyer Barr is handling the investigation, we can be sure the truth will come out.
25
@Mark
Trump will be totally exonerated.
7
These libertarians aim to break the Federal government in order to defund it by claiming that funding a broken system is a misuse of taxpayer dollars. This is the result of that sabotage.
29
The problem here is a lack of credibility on top of very suspicious circumstance. Even if by a very small chance that this is the truth, who would believe it. Let's see now, then we will let them think he was murdered, that way they will have to believe believe he is dead. And even if it happened to be the truth that he did commit suicide, they would still think he was murdered. Next we will hear that the body is missing, which would mean he may still be alive, which is probably the truth, that by this time no one is bound to believe.
6
If you are a fan of John Le Carre you recall that in his novels only people linked to the 'Moscow Center" used the word 'irregularities.' He of course taken the word from the real life usage.
19
The article says the FBI raided Epstein’s US VI home today. Shouldn’t they have done that in July when he was arrested? His employees have had weeks to destroy evidence.
49
Together, let's stand for reality and not "reality tv." We know, based on Trump jumping on this 'so-called suicide' so quickly with an outrageous conspiracy theory, he and Barr already had a disinformation plan. Barr had a grudge for his father having to resign from the private school Head Master position due to Epstein's knowledge of his perversion. Trump is all up in this abuse of young women - we all know this in our gut. Now, they want to act appalled? We are smarter than this...
32
The fatal flaw in the conspiracy theories: The most relevant witnesses in Epstein's case should be his trafficking victims, not Epstein himself.
18
"... only one of the two people guarding the Special Housing Unit ..normally worked as a correctional officer...
The officials did not say what sort of job the other employee usually worked."
Um, just guessing.
Hitman.
17
Still, it doesn’t take much training to look through a peep hole to see if the guy is hanging. Of course he was supposed to be in a cell with no bed sheets.
5
This is exactly why I do not want any more of my money going to the federal government. They are extremely poor stewards of our money that we pay in taxes. Furthermore I guarantee that the idiot that allowed Epstein to kill himself will still get his full pension. We are doing nothing but rewarding incompetence,,,,,,,
3
Throw open the doors. release all the prisoners. close the prisons. save money.
7
As someone who recently had a client at the MCC whom I visited weekly (but who was not on the ward that Epstein was held in), I can confirm that the MCC is extremely poorly run. It is severely understaffed, the guards are overworked, and morale among the guards is poor. Additionally, the facilities are awful--it is extremely common for vital equipment to not function. Having said that, the guards are also prone to bribery. Drugs and cell phones, along with other contraband, are easy to obtain in the MCC. The guards are paid to allow contraband in. So, what appeared to have happened here could have easily been due to the normal incompetence that reigns in the facility. A suicide could also have been easily facilitated by paying off a guard to not make his rounds on a certain day. The facts, as we currently know, are entirely consistent with either possibility.
50
@Jon Good information. Did you see any evidence of a CCTV system in the hallways and/or cells?
3
@1coolguy I saw little in the way of CCTV systems in the hallways. Legal staff is normally allowed only in the visiting room to meet with inmates, however, so my knowledge in that regard is limited. But, for the inmates held on the floor that Epstein was held in, attorneys are often brought straight to the cells to visit with their clients. Hearing from one of those few attorneys would be enlightening.
4
@Jon
Hmm - now why would you think the Attorney General's office would move this prisoner to such a facility??
5
Okay that's great and all, but can we possibly get more direct reporting on the trial and investigation of Epstein's collaborators and colleagues? I'm not expecting the case to blow open overnight but all of the talk about his suicide, real or otherwise, feels like a distraction from the real problem.
This is not a problem that needs a distraction. It should be front and center, even if the news is "We just don't know," it still needs reported on.
10
@RS5 The DOJ and the SDNY is all over this case. Your concern is unwarranted. This is a "a career maker" for the DOJ attorneys.
1
@1coolguy I am apprehensive but hopeful.
1
epstein committed suicide and i have a bridge in brooklyn to sell.
15
Wait, Barr is going to seek justice for the man who trafficked young women for sex?
Isn't Barr's boss the same guy standing with Jeffrey in a video at a Mar a Lago party with at least a dozen women?
I really, really don't think so.
28
Earlier reporting indicated a non-removable bed sheet and no place in the cell from which to suspend the reportedly non-removable bed sheet.
What are we talking about here?
27
Which earlier report?
2
The good news is that an influential rapist is no longer among us.
Which is huge.
No new victims.
The bad news is huge, too.
All of his victims may not have their day in court. We need to hear them.
And we will always wonder who of our elected officials took part in his sick, sad, illegal atrocities.
22
Barr's credibility was shredded when he issued his completely false Mueller Report summary at the behest of "Orange Julius". Sadly, nothing he says can be taken seriously. I still want to know why Barr's father hired Epstein to teach at a prestigious prep school, knowing the guy was a college drop out.
31
Barr's words are only a smokescreen.
Trump has claimed Clinton involovement: given his habitual defense mechanism of projection, we can guess who is *really* behind the "suicide."
(1) Consider these facts: Trump (not Clinton) co-hosted with Epstein a "2-man, multi-women" party at Mar a Lago.
(2) An enormous trove of documents--doubtless tying many celebrities to Epstein--was unsealed shortly before his suicide.
(3) Trump is a known adulterer, unfaithful to each of his three wives.
33
I think a Chinese proverb tersely describes Epstein and his demise: "Lay down with dogs, get fleas." Not really rocket science.
5
Well, Bill - IT’S YOUR DANG FACILITY. I guess you were just too busy being Donald Trump’s taxpayer-furnished personal lawyer to do the REAL job that you’re supposed to be doing.
Ever heard of “The Buck Stops Here?” Probably not, since no Trump appointee seems to be even remotely familiar with the concept of personal responsibility and accountability.
49
Since Trump has been elected, I now have a glimpse into how the French people must have felt during the Vichy government.
40
Let’s see who accountable? You would think the Warden and her Senior Staff would be certain that Epstein was closely guarded.
If this is the high level of security it’s a wonder El Chapo didn’t escape!
17
yeah...begs the question...is El Chapo still in his cell? has anyone checked on him recently?
12
Why do I care? I don't. Enough about Epstein. It's a tabloid story. Move on. The world, as is being reported every day in your news pages, is coming apart. That's important. Epstein is not. He's dead. In the balance the monster's death is a good thing but enough, enough about him.
6
@Carl Zeitz And all the other monsters who aided and abetted him, tasted the fruit from his forbidden tree. We forget about them, give them a pass to walk away unscathed? ........... I don't think so.
15
@Deb I didn't say that. Prosecutors should go where the facts take them. Not talking about that. Talking about the media, especially The Times, promoting a tabloid story. Having been a reporter, knowing news, I get that but this is too important a moment to succumb to our worse instincts in the public marketplace. The Russians are messing with nuclear-propelled nuclear-armed missiles in a world in which the INF is now defunct and START is about to be. Worry about what you choose to worry about but which is more important. And did you know any of that? The information about nuclear arms? I hope and expect so, it's all been in The Times over the past two months and appropriately so as it is about the future of the planet. Epstein isn't.
2
Shocking lax! Video surveillance? How many other suicides in jail will Barr investigate?
5
Who was at the Southampton gathering Friday night, what was said, and were they known to Epstein who died that night?
8
Like this is a tragedy?
No one who attempts suicide is well enough to not need supervision 2 weeks after their first attempt. Once all the beans were spilled Epstein knew “they” were coming, and did himself a favor.
6
How ironic that Barr is so concerned about the improprieties when an extremely privileged white male is held, but shows no concern at all about the deplorable conditions in which the immigrant children are being held. Typical of this administration. SHAME on you, Mr. Barr.
28
Methinks AG Barr doth protest too much.
22
It’s Barr’s jail. So ... is he responsible?
15
@Machiavelli
Of course not. There will be a sacrificial lamb, but not him. After all, rank has its privileges.
2
So where's the smart money on who paid for the hit?
31
@KMEC - Kremlin
7
Mr. Barr, are you a man of integrity? To quote President Truman does “the buck stop here”? Shouldn’t you stand up and resign? I won’t be holding my breath. The country is sliding further into the abyss.
36
Hey Barr, while you are being appalled about a small jail cell you should check out Trump committing treason on live tv when he said he believes Putin and not our own American Intelligence.
Or is your "outrage" over Epstein fake just to keep the more important crimes done daily by Trump behind smoke and mirrors?
44
The immediate question for me is whether (1) the person in the top position at the jail itself was trying to run the operation on too lean a burn rate (for his own purposes), (2) the Bureau of Prisons was being too lean, (3) Congress had underfunded the agency, or (4) there is some other reason for low staffing.
12
How can these people be appalled when they were fully aware of the serious staffing shortages at these facilities. Expecting teachers and secretaries to step in as a correctional officer is astounding. I wonder how many more incidents like this have occurred, but the public doesn't know about it because the people involved were not famous or high profile.
21
I am not surprised. It has recently been suggested that teachers and other school staff should be armed and expected to shoot armed and threatening people in schools. It only stands to reason that the same would happen in jails. Everything in this country is done on the cheap.
8
Cut personnel. Cut funding. Cut deals. Pay the price.
18
Unless accountability means everyone including Attorney General Barr then Accountability is meaningless.
Heads may roll but it will only be the least responsible. Unless there is serious accountability from the top down then any and all efforts are worthless.
We should demand Barr's resignation and everyone at the prison who was in charge, not the underlings, should also be immediately terminated. Maybe a charge of involuntary manslaughter should be brought against the several highest personnel responsible for Epstein's loss of his life.
Epstein was not accused of murder. A death sentence was hanging over his head. Dying in prison was totally wrong and unnecessary.
5
“We are now learning of serious irregularities at this facility that are deeply concerning and demand a thorough investigation,” said Mr. Barr, who, as the country’s top law enforcement official, is responsible for federal prisons.
Hey, Attorney General Barr, I only wished you cared as much as "serious irregularities that are deeply concerning" such as the undermining of our electoral process and democracy from Russian hackers.
26
Two wrongs don’t make a right: it reads like a negligence case on part of those who need to be behind bars.
1
So we have Barr, who is supposed to be responsible for the Federal Prisons, except he spends all his time covering for Trump, acting like his personal lawyer.
Then we have a Federal Prison which is being starved of staff by Teump and his policies because we need to give more money to people like Jeffrey Epstein.
And who will get the blame for this debacle? Some lowly person doing a job they weren’t supposed to be doing.
Does the winning ever stop?
28
@JKile
And we may be hicks, to you Billy, but we will vote.
11
"We will get to the bottom of what happened,” he added. “There will be accountability.”
Oh, yes there will be, indeed, Mr. Barr; there will be accountability.
5
The coverup is already underway as television news programs seem to refrain from extensive mentions of prominent individuals who have been accused of involvement in Epstein’s sex trafficking. Some of the accused undoubtedly have strong connections at the networks and are probably using them. One could say that it’s the only responsible thing for TV news to do since the accusations are very serious and no one’s been charged yet. But if the accused were black and poor, we would have heard their names so often by now that they would be household words.
This is how justice works in America if you’re white, wealthy, well-connected and lawyered-up.
14
“What you know, you know. From this time I shall speak no word again.”
So said the villainous Iago in Shakespeare’s tragedy “Othello.”
Could Epstein have chosen any more cruel exit than to put himself beyond retribution? With his suicide he saves himself untold horrors and denies justice for those whom he devastated.
Pure evil made manifest.
5
@Susan
He also saved Trump from the bad " optics " of pardoning him.
And if Epstein were an African American man, would Barr be putting all this energy and focus on him? How about the African Americans who have died as a result of negligence or outright brutality when they were supposedly in Protective custody!” What about immigrant children held in cells, some of whom have died from neglect? Where is Barr’s indignation in these circumstances?
17
So Mr Barr is angry? He wants to get to the bottom of what happened?
Sorry, but I have a hard time believing anything from Mr Barr, after what he has done on the Mueller report's case.
This death is very convenient to his protégé.
I agree with one thing: yes it is necessary to get to the bottom of this story. Will the DOJ do its job?
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Wait.. did he say ‘appalled’? Jeffrey Epstein was put on his path by Barr’s Father, Donald Barr, who hired Epstein to teach at Dalton School, a prep school in New York City. Back in 1973, Epstein had no college degree, but Donald Barr brought Epstein a serial child abuser, to be close to children. The question to Barr, Acosta and Trump - why are they attracted to be close friends with a pedophile? We are appalled!
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Monitors for surveillance...multple screens views at a time? At the very least, is very cost effective. No videos on a high alert case prisoner? This smells so wrong, and we all know it. Barr, with too many conflicts, needs to stay out of this...FBI & only special investigators, independently chosen (if there is such thing this days!)
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Times like these makes you wish we had a credible AG.
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Regular Times reader. Pretty much up on current events. Well educated. Why on earth should I give a hoot about Jeffrey Epstein? Why this daily drumbeat of coverage about this particular rich creep? I don’t get it.
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@Jeff Russell [1] his victims [2] his friends in high places. Now do you get it?
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Barr is appalled at the circumstances of Epstein’s incarceration and irregularities at the jail where he was confined but he is unconcerned about Russian past and present interference and influence on our electoral process. Wait, what? Shameful and shameless partisan posturing. I’m deeply concerned about what took place re the lack of oversight of Epstein, but for a far different reason than Barr’s. I think Epstein’s victims are too.
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Well Pres. DJT Conspiracy THeory is nothing but "Psychological Projection". Psychological projection is a defense mechanism in which the human ego defends itself against unconscious impulses or qualities (both positive and negative) by denying their existence in themselves while attributing them to others.... Epstein was friends with DJT and they used to hang out together. He is trying to refocus this on the Clinton...Apparent...It was a paid job by those that don't want more leaks on DJT sordid past...Possibly a Pay Off by Russians???? Conspiracy Theory II.
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The problem is the truly horrible "leadership" in charge of the Justice Dept and prison system. Namely Barr and Trump. They are responsible, but neither of these two men have ever demonstrated a shred of responsibility for their actions. This is only the latest example of the incompetent management of our government under Trump who was an equally incompetent business man. No one should be surprised. With Trump in charge our national security is in great danger.
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Suggest that the NYT and other media outlets refrain from using the term “apparent suicide” pending autopsy results.
Given the laxity surrounding Mr. Epstein’s treatment at MMC, it is certainly possible that his death was a murder staged to look like a suicide.
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That is exactly why they use the term “apparent suicide.” That is apparently, but not definitely, what it was.
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Barr is responsible for what happens in the Justice Department.
I want to know why #ClintonBodyCount was trending on Twitter minutes after Epstein's suicide was reported. Many of those tweets were coming from suspicious bots and trolls. Did they know something before we did?
And how can we accept a president using his platform to accuse a former president of murder?
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Hmmm...shouldn't someone get fired? Like, the warden?
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@Em K If the warden does not get the funding he needs to cover his operation from the Trump administration, why should he be the one who gets fired? Money is tight, especially when more than $100 million a year is needed to cover Trump's weekend golf trips and additional monies are required to handle the first class lifestyle of his 19 member family.
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Now, according to Liberals, Trump and Barr are responsible for Epstein?
Trump has made the Liberals insane!
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Trump bought Huggies for his followers—is that why they feel free to spew on all of us?
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@Dr. John
Trump says the Clintons did it. Now, try that again — who are you suggesting is insane?
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@Casey
You proved my point.
the times needs to conduct its own investigation, and not trust William Barr to present the truth. You may discover that Epstein had a visitor.
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