Currents News Staff
Accused sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein died Saturday in “an apparent suicide” according to federal officials.
The 66-year-old was in a Manhattan jail awaiting trial and although Epstein is gone, the legal battles linked to him remain.
The FBI has started an investigation into his death.
“He was probably the highest priority and highest profile person in the custody in the Bureau of Prisons at the time and second of all he had reportedly had a recent suicide attempt,” said Legal Analyst Elie Honig.
Attorney General William Barr released a statement Saturday that said he was “appalled” that the multi-millionaire died while in federal custody.
Barr also said the inspector general is opening an additional investigation because “Epstein’s death raises serious questions that must be answered.”
“It is very difficult to understand how he was not on a suicide watch and how this happened without some involvement of those who were responsible to hold him safely,” said Sen. Ben Cardin from Maryland.
Epstein was reportedly found with marks on his neck July 23 and was placed on a suicide watch.
Psychologists took him off suicide watch at the end of July, according to a source familiar with the matter.
On Friday unsealed court documents revealed new allegations of sexual abuse claims against Epstein and several associates. He was dead the next day.
“Anyone who helped Jeffrey Epstein run this sex trafficking ring, promote, profit from it should still be very worried. Southern District has made clear: we’re not done, we’re still going for the co-conspirators,” said Honig.
Epstein’s lawyers released a statement saying they were “enormously sorry to learn” of Epstein’s passing, adding that “no one should die in jail.”
No official cause of death has been released thus far.