New York congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez has demanded answers into the circumstances surrounding the prison death of Jeffrey Epstein, as the FBI launched an investigation
As questions were asked as to how a suspect in a major sex trafficking investigation who was reportedly on suicide watch was allowed to kill himself – and as the internet filled up with conspiracy theories – the Democratic congresswoman was among those demanding answers.
“We need answers,” tweeted Ms Ocasio-Cortez, a member of the House of Representatives’ oversight and reform committee. “Lots of them.”
We’ll tell you what’s true. You can form your own view.
From
15p
€0.18
$0.18
USD 0.27
a day, more exclusives, analysis and extras.
Officials in New York confirmed that the 66-year-old, who once counted the likes of Prince Andrew, Bill Clinton, Jeff Bezos and Donald Trump as his friends and associates, had been found dead alone in his cell on at around 7.30am on Saturday morning at the the Manhattan Correctional Centre in New York City.
Multiple media reports said sourced at the facility said it appeared he had killed himself, despite him being on suicide watch. Last month, Epstein was found unconscious on the floor of his jail cell with marks on his neck, according to media reports and officials were investigating that incident as either a possible suicide attempt or else assault.
left
Created with Sketch.
right
Created with Sketch.
Epstein was being held at the facility after being arrested and charged last month with sex trafficking charges that accused him of abusing dozens of underage girls as young as 14. Epstein had been charged with one count of sex trafficking conspiracy and one count of sex trafficking with underage females, and had pleaded not guilty.
Those charges came 11 years after Epstein’s lawyers cut a plea deal with prosecutors in Florida to avoid a similar charge.
As controversy over that plea deal mounted last month following the new charges, the lawyer who oversaw the deal, Alexander Acosta, who went on to become Mr Trump’s labour secretary was forced to stand down.
NBC coverage from 1992 shows Donald Trump and Jeffrey Epstein discussing women at Mar-a-Lago party
More follows…
Only the best news in your inbox
Only the best news in your inbox