Mega Edition: The OIG Report Into The Death And Circumstances Of Epstein's Death (Part 2) (11/24/25)
November 25, 2025 • 43 mins
The Office of the Inspector General (OIG) report into Jeffrey Epstein’s death delivers a blistering indictment of systemic failures at the Bureau of Prisons (BOP) and his holding facility. It documents a litany of procedural violations: Epstein’s cellmate was removed and never replaced despite explicit policy, surveillance cameras in his unit were malfunctioning or not recording, and the staff responsible for required 30-minute checks on Epstein didn’t perform them. Instead, employees falsified records indicating those rounds were completed, and in reality Epstein was alone and unchecked for hours before his death. These aren’t isolated mistakes—they’re classic symptoms of institutional collapse and neglect at a time when every safeguard should have been activated.
Beyond the immediate night of his death, the report underscores a deeper rot: long-standing staffing shortages, indifferent supervision, and a culture that tolerated policy breaches without accountability. The OIG identifies that the same deficiencies had been raised in prior reports about the BOP, yet were never effectively addressed. By allowing one of the most high-profile detainees in the nation to slip through the cracks under such glaring conditions, the BOP didn’t just fail Epstein—they failed the public trust and all the victims who sought justice.
to contact me:
bobbycapucci@protonmail.com
source:
2 3 - 0 8 5 (justice.gov)
Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-epstein-chronicles--5003294/support.
Beyond the immediate night of his death, the report underscores a deeper rot: long-standing staffing shortages, indifferent supervision, and a culture that tolerated policy breaches without accountability. The OIG identifies that the same deficiencies had been raised in prior reports about the BOP, yet were never effectively addressed. By allowing one of the most high-profile detainees in the nation to slip through the cracks under such glaring conditions, the BOP didn’t just fail Epstein—they failed the public trust and all the victims who sought justice.
to contact me:
bobbycapucci@protonmail.com
source:
2 3 - 0 8 5 (justice.gov)
Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-epstein-chronicles--5003294/support.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
And welcome back to the Epstein Chronicles. In this episode,
we're going to pick up the conversation with the Inspector
General's report into the death of Jeffrey Epstein and the
circumstances surrounding it in the last episode we left off.
After we were done discussing methodology, now comes applicable law
(00:21):
regulations and BOP policy Section A Standards of Conduct. The
Standards of Ethical Conduct for Employees of the Executive Branch
sets out general principles that are designed to ensure that
every citizen can have complete confidence in the integrity of
the federal government. Among other things, these standards require that
(00:44):
every federal employee use official time in an honest effort
to perform official duties. The Ethical regulations also mandate that
federal employees not use federal property for other than authorized
activitiesp Policy Program Statement thirty four to twenty dot eleven
(01:04):
Standards of Employee Conduct, imposes several additional standards of conduct
on its employees. At all times, BOP employees must conduct
themselves in a manner that fosters respect for the Bureau
of Prisons, the Department of Justice, and the US government.
Because in attention to duty in a correctional environment can
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result in escapes, assaults, and other incidents. BOP employees are
required to remain fully alert and attentive during duty hours.
BOP policy provides that employees can use government property for
authorized purposes only, and further specifies that personal use of
government office equipment, such as computers, will not take place
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during official working hours. BOP policy requires that employees obey
the orders of their superiors at all times. Section B
false statements and lack of candor Under federal law, whoever,
in any matter within the jurisdiction of the Executive Branch
of the Government of the United States, knowingly and wilfully
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makes or uses any false writing or document, knowing the
same to contain any material, false, fictitious, or fraudulent statement
or entry, has violated Title eighteen US Code, Section one
zero zero one A and three. The terms knowingly and
wilfully mean that the subject acted with the knowledge that
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the conduct was, in a general sense, prohibited by law.
It is not required that the subject was aware of
the existence of Section one zero zero one. Under the
BOP standards of conduct discussed above, employees are required to
cooperate fully with the investigations, which includes providing all pertinent
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information they may have and truthfully responding to questions. Part
C Relevant BOP policies regarding the operation of correctional facilities
one Special housing units. Shoes within GOP facilities are governed
by Federal Regulations twenty eight CFR five forty one dot
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twenty one DASH five forty one dot thirty three. These
regulations provide that the BOP may establish shoes where inmates
are securely separated from the general inmate population. These regulations
and BOP Policy Program Statement fifty two seventy dot eleven
Special housing Units explain that inmates in the shoe are
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either on administrative detention or disciplinary segregation status. Administrative segregation
status is a non punitive designation that removes an inmate
from the general population when necessary to ensure the safety, security,
and orderly operation of correctional facilities or protect the public.
(04:06):
There are several reasons an inmate can be placed in
administrative detention status, including when an inmate's presence in the
general inmate population presents a threat to self or others,
or when administrative detention status is necessary for the protection
of the inmate. Assignment to the Shoe for protection. Reasons
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can be based on being a victim of an assault,
acting or being perceived as an informant, refusing to enter
general population, or because of staff concerns about the inmate safety.
Inmates in the Shoe are securely separated from the general
population inmates and are kept locked in their cell when
(04:47):
in their assignedier within the Shoe. As discussed in greater
detail in Chapter four, witnesses told the OIG that Shoe
inmates are locked in their cells for approximately twenty three
hours a day. BOP policy provides that weather and resources permitting,
Shoe inmates will have the opportunity to exercise outside their
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quarters five hours per calendar week. Under federal regulations and
BOP policy, Shoe inmates ordinarily have the opportunity to shower
at least three times a week, typically on different days,
in one hour periods. Shoe inmates may also be escorted
from their cells by mcc new York staff for visits,
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including legal visits, court appearances, medical and psychological attention. The
mcc new York Shoe post orders require that all visitors
to the Shoe be documented in a visitor log, and
that any inmate visiting the shoe, such as inmates on
work details, be searched visually and with a handheld metal
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detector without exception. The mcc New York Shoe Post orders
also require that food cards be searched inside and out
before being brought into a shoe cell block, and that
all meals be delivered to each inmates cell through the
food slot in the inmates lock cell door. BOP policy
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provides that inmates housed in the shoe for thirty continuous
calendar days are to be examined and interviewed by a
mental health staff member to assess the inmates adjustment and
the threat presented to self or others. BOP policy also
requires that all staff assigned to the shoe participate in
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quarterly training on, among other things, orderly supervision, suicide prevention,
and security procedures relating to the unit. When a staff
member is assigned to the shoe at the last minute
and has not completed the quarterly training, the staff member
must be advised of the general requirements of a shoe
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post and be permitted to ask questions about the duties. Two.
Inmate accountability a headcount. Inmate counts serve as an important
security function, and they enable CEOs to ensure that all
inmates are accounted for and present at the appropriate location
within the facility. BOP policy requires that each institution conduct
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at a minimum five official inmate counts during every twenty
four hour period, and that on weekends and holidays an
additional account will be conducted at ten am. At least
one count a day during the week, and two counts
a day on weekends and holidays must be stand up counts,
which means that inmates are required to stand when they
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are counted. Mcc new York Shoe post orders designate that
counts must occur at twelve am, three am, five am,
four pm, and that stand up counts are to be
conducted at ten pm daily and also at ten am
on weekends and federal holidays. The BOP requires that each
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count be conducted by at least two officers, one of
whom will count the inmates while the other observes the
unit for any unauthorized movement from the end of the tier.
This requirement is also set out in the mcc new
York Shoe post orders. The two officers will then switch
rolls and compare the count numbers. If the totals do
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not match, then the officers must conduct another count in
the same manner. When conducting the count, officers are required
to observe each inmate's body and not rely solely on
movement or sound. Officers conducting the count relay the count
verbally to the control center, which maintains the master count
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of all inmates, and then remain in the unit until
the control center accepts the count. If a count reported
verbally does not match the master count, then the control
center must notify the Operations lieutenant and the staff members
must recount the inmates. If the second count does not
match the master count, then the Operations lieutenant will order
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a bedbook count. That is, when inmates are counted using
their picture cards, which are on file in the control center.
A lieutenant must take at least one count in the
morning and one in the evening. Correctional staff prepare count
slips for each count, which must be prepared in inc,
signed by both officers, and retained for thirty days. Count
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slips may not be altered. BOP policy provides that the
official count will not be cleared until all count slips
are received and verified in the control center. B thirty
minute rounds. The GOP uses additional accountability measures for inmates
who are in administrative detention or disciplinary segregation IE for
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those detained in CHEW. In such cases, a correctional staff
member must observe all inmates at least twice an hour,
once during the first thirty minutes eg. Twelve am to
twelve thirty am, and again during the second thirty minutes eg.
Twelve thirty am to one am. BOP policy provides that
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these rounds are to be conducted on an irregular schedule
and no more than forty minutes apart. These same requirements
for rounds are also described in the post orders for
the MCC's New York Shoe ce documentation regarding inmate status
and confinement. BOP policy also provides that each institution must
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prepare a daily change Transfer sheet, which indicates changes to
an inmate status, including housing and job assignments, and medical convalescence.
The mcc New York Shoe post orders require that correctional
staff assigned to the Shoe create a shoe file for
each inmate housed in that unit, and that morning watch
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officers audit the inmate files every night. The MCC New
York Shoe post orders further specify that all pertinent information
about an inmate's confinement should be noted on a special
Housing unit record form BP two ninety two, and that
shoe officers must maintain a log of pertinent information regarding
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inmate activity and enter such information into the BOP computer
system true Scope, which provides institution staff with detailed inmate
and institution security related information and provides unit officers an
electronic of en log d sell searches. BOP policy requires
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that BOP staff routinely and irregularly search housing units, too,
among other things, to maintain sanitary standards and eliminate safety hazards.
The mcc New York shoe post orders require that officers
assigned to the shoe conduct searches of the shoe common
areas and sells, and that the entire shoe be searched
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every week. BOP policy and mcc new York shoe post
orders require written documentation of each housing unit search. Three.
Psychological screening, a initial screening pursue into BOP policy governing
inmates in pre trial Detention Status program. All pre trial
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inmates must have an initial risk needs assessment screening within
forty eight hours of admission to the institution. The goal
of this screening is to determine the inmates security, medical, psychological,
and or other special needs. The BOP also requires that
institutions screen pre trial inmates returning from court, as events
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at court may alter the inmates separation and or security needs.
BOP policy further recognizes that there are often high security,
high profile inmates who may present a significant threat to
themselves or others, and that the need to identify and
monitor these inmates regularly is paramount b suicide prevention. The
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BOP suicide prevention program is governed by federal regulations twenty
eight CFR Section five fifty two dot forty Dash five
fifty two dot forty two, which require the BP to
establish a suicide prevention program to identify and manage potentially
suicidal inmates. Pursuingto these regulations, when an inmate identified as
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being at risk for committing suicide, BOP staff must place
the inmate on suicide watch until the inmate is no
longer an eminent risk. BOP policy program Statement fifty three
twenty four dot zero eight suicide Prevention program require is
that medical staff screen all new inmates ordinarrowly within twenty
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four hours for signs of being suicidal. However, at MCCs
among other facilities with high rates of admission and short
lengths of stays, comprehensive psychological intake conducted by psychology services
ordinarily will be performed only on inmates who are suspected
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of being suicidal or who appear psychologically unstable. Inmates in
the Shoe are monitored more closely, and inmates exhibiting signs
of potential suicide risk are referred to the shift lieutenant.
BOP policy recognizes that inmates who are placed in the
shoe due to a request for protective custody are at
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greater risk for committing suicide and should therefore be screened
for suicidal ideation within seventy two hours of arriving in
the shoe. BOP policy explicitly states that staff must never
take lightly any inmate suicide threats. Any staff member who
has reason to believe that an inmate may be suicidal
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should ordinarily maintain the inmate under direct continuous observation. Every
BOP institution must have one or more rooms, ordinarily in
the health services area, dedicated to inmates placed on suicide watch.
Suicide watch may be conducted by specially trained staff or inmates.
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For inmates placed on suicide watch, the specially trained staff
or inmate maintains continuous observation of the inmate believed to
be at risk of committing suicide. Following suicide watch and
based on clinical findings, following a face to face evaluation,
the inmate will be removed from suicide watch or transferred
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to a medical referral or a health care facility. Psychological
observation is a less restrictive form of individual monitoring that
is used for inmates who are stabilizing and not yet
prepared for replacement in general population or restrictive housing. While
on suicide watch, the inmate is normally required to wear
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a suicide watch gown and will be allowed a suicide
watch blanket. As discussed in greater detail in Chapter four,
witnesses told the OIG that an inmate is placed on
suicide watch when the inmate is believed to be eminently suicidal.
During suicide watch, the inmate is under constant observation by staff.
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The cell lights are on twenty four hours a day,
and the inmate is given a special mattress, blankets, and
a smock to wear. Although psychological observation is a lower classification.
Witnesses told the OIG that at mcc new York, the
psychological observation was the same as a suicide watch, except
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that inmates were allowed to have their clothing and some
materials such as books as determined by the psychology department.
At mcc new York, psychological observation was used to see
how an inmate was doing before releasing the inmate to
a housing unit. Luckily, suicide response. Recognizing that failure to
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appropriately respond to an emergency can jeopardize the safety of
staff and inmates and the security of the institution, the
BOP Standards of Employee Conduct require that employees respond immediately, effectively,
and appropriately during all emergency situations. The mcc new York
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General Housing Unit post orders outline the required response to
a suspected inmate suicide. These orders require that mcc new
York staff notify the Operations Lieutenant and Control Center of
the situation. The orders further provide that once there is
adequate staff present, immediate action must be taken to open
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the inmates airway and initiate CPR. Even if mcc new
York staff believe that the inmate has been dead for
a period of time. Mcc New York staff are to
continue CPR until they are relieved by medical staff or
another rescuer. The BOP policy governing crime scenes and the
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collection of evidence provides that the need to immediately attend
to an apparent suicide victim, undertake life saving measures, and
ensure inmate and staff safety take precedent over efforts to
preserve a crime scene. Five Inmate Discipline. Federal Regulations twenty
eight c DOT FR five forty one Dot one DASH
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five forty one Dot eight and BOP Policy establish an
inmate discipline program which is designed to ensure the safety, security,
and orderly operation of correctional facilities, as well as the
protection of the public. The Inmate Discipline Program applies to
all inmates in BOP custody, including inmates with pending criminal charges.
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One of the guiding principles of this program is that
BP staff are to take disciplinary action when and to
such a degree as necessary to regulate the behavior of
inmates to promote a safe and orderly institution. Tattooing or
self mutilation is among the prohibited acts sanctioned through the
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Inmate Discipline Program. This prohibited act falls within the second
most severe category of offenses on a four tier scale.
The BOP defines tattooing or self mutilation as to put
indelible patterns on the skin to injure, disfigure, or make
imperfect by removing or irreparably damaging parts of the body.
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Risk cutting falls within this offense. The definition does not
make an explicit reference to suicide attempts other than inclusion
of risk cutting, among other things. BOP policy addressing the
inmate's discipline program identifies the prohibited acts, describes the process
for adjudicating violations and less applicable penalties for each category
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of offense as relevant to this matter. The discipline process
begins when a staff member observes an inmate commit a
prohibited act and issues a report documenting the incident. A
BOP supervisor then investigates the alleged inmate misconduct, which includes
taking a statement from the inmate regarding the incident. If
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an inmate appears to be mentally ill at any stage
of the disciplinary process, a mental health staff member will
examine the inmate and assess the inmate's competency to participate
in the disciplinary process. If the inmate is found to
be competent and the prohibited act falls into the first
or sex second most severe category, the matter is referred
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to a discipline hearing officer, who will hold a hearing
and make a determination as to whether the inmate committed
the prohibited act, and, if so, impose any of the
sanctions that correspond to the severity of the prohibited act.
At the hearing, the inmate is advised of his or
her rights and permitted to choose a staff representative, make
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a statement, and call witnesses. The inmate is also allowed
to appeal the outcome through the BOP's Administrative Remedy Program.
Six conditions of confinement a telephone calls. The Federal regulations
twenty eight c dot f dot R five forty dot
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one hundred five forty dot oneh six that govern telephone
calls for inmates require that the warden of each BOP
institution established procedures to monitor inmate telephone camp conversations, which
is done to preserve the security and orderly management of
the institution and to protect the public for safety and
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security reasons. BOP Policy Program Statement P. Five two six
four dot zero eight Inmate telephone regulations requires that all
inmate telephone calls be made through the inmate telephone system.
BOP policy recognizes that, on rare occasions, during times of crisis,
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inmates may be permitted to make a telephone call outside
of the inmate telephone system. In such circumstances, the telephone
must be placed in a secure area eg. A locked office,
and must be set to record telephone calls. Additionally, the
staff member coordinating the call must notify the BOPS Special
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Investigative Services via email, providing the inmate's name and register number,
the date and time of the call, the number and
name of the individual called, and the reason for the call.
The Special Investigative Services must enter this information into the
telephone recording system within seven days. B Personal Effects, medication
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and linens. Federal regulations governing BOP shoes provide that inmates
in administrative detention status ordinarily may have a reasonable amount
of personal property. Under BOP policy regarding shoes, the personal
property of shoe inmates may be limited or withheld for
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reasons of security, fire safety, or housekeeping. The BOP Chief
Pharmacist issues medication each workday for inmates in the shoe.
Restricted medications are administered to inmates during daily shoe rounds.
Each institution determines the medication or medications the amount number
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of days an inmate in shoe may maintain in their cell.
Inmates may also purchase pre approved over the counter medications
at the Commissary. MCC new York General Housing Units post
orders provide that when an inmate is released or transferred
out of a housing unit, the inmate will remove all
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limited and government issued clothing from the cell in which
the inmate was previously housed. These post orders further specify
that all cells are to be cleaned daily body inmates
occupying the cell, and that blankets, towels, and other linens
will not be used as rugs or hungover inmate bunk
beds at any time. Pursuant to these post orders, MCC
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new York Housing Unit officers on all three ships are
responsible for maintaining a high level of sanitation and a safe,
clean environment. All right, folks. So that's gonna wrap up
chapter two, and the next time we get to it,
we'll be talking about the timeline of key events in
chapter three, all right, folks. Until then, all of the
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information that goes with the episode can be found in
the description box Spice Uppeers Lost Everyone and welcome back
to the Epstein Chronicles. In this episode, we're going to
continue with the Office of Inspector General's report into the
death of Jeffrey Epstein and the circumstances surrounding it. We
(25:24):
left off with chapter two, and in this episode we're
gonna pick right back up with chapter three. So let's
get to it. Chapter three. Timeline of key events, except
as otherwise noted, The following information is derived from the
Federal Bureau of Prisons records and the Office of the
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Inspector General's interviews. September twenty first through the twenty fourth,
twenty eighteen, The BOP awards contracts to two companies, Company
one and two to upgrade the security camera SYSM at
Metropolitan Correctional Center in New York, New York MCC New York.
(26:06):
At the time. Images from the MCC New York's analog
video cameras are recorded to a digital video recorder system,
which is divided into two DVR systems. Cameras assigned to
the DVR one system record only to the DVR one
hard drives, and cameras assigned to DVR two system record
(26:27):
only to the DVR two hard drives. March seventeen, twenty nineteen,
in connection with the MCC's New York upgrade of its
security camera system, the BOP's Northeast Regional Office begins arranging
for technicians from other BOP institutions to perform temporary duty
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assignments to MCC New York to perform necessary mechanical, electrical,
plumbing and wiring work. However, the course of the TDY
rotations work is not consistently conducted on the camera upgrade
because TDY personnel are sometimes used to cover shortages at
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MCC's New York custody posts. July second, twenty nineteen, according
to court records, a federal grand jury of the US
District Court for the Southern District of New York returns
an indictment charging Epstein with sex trafficking and conspiracy to
commit sex trafficking. July sixth, twenty nineteen, Epstein is arrested
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at an airport, New Jersey and transported for detention pending
his initial court appearance to the MCC New York. As
a pre trial detainee. Epstein is placed in the general
inmate population and is medically screened an mcc new York
facilities assistant as the Psychology Department to evaluate Epstein because
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he appears distraught, sad, and a little confused. Epstein is
assigned to the mcc new York Special Housing Unit because
of significant media attention and his notoriety among other MCC
new York inmates. July eighth, twenty nineteen, according to court records,
(28:19):
Epstein is arraigned in federal court and enters a plea
of not guilty to all charges. The court sets a
detention hearing for July fifteenth of twenty nineteen. Mcc new
York staff conducts a routine intake screening of Epstein, the
records of which indicate that Epstein denies the history of
any mental health problems. After the Chief Psychologist consults with
(28:44):
a National Suicide Prevention Coordinator from BOP Central Office, the
Psychology Department conducts a further evaluation of Epstein after his
return from court. Record show that Epstein denies any suicidal thoughts,
but was placed on psychological observation due to the presence
of risk factors, high profile case nature of the charges,
(29:06):
pre trial status, and ongoing proceedings. July ninth, twenty nineteen,
the Psychology Department administers a formal in person suicide risk
assessment for Epstein. The Psychology Department continues psychological observation for
another day, pending a suitable housing placement. July tenth, twenty nineteen,
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the Psychology Department administers a formal in person suicide risk
assessment for Epstein. The Psychology Department continues psychological observation for
another day, pending a suitable housing placement. July tenth, twenty nineteen,
the Psychology Department removes Epstein from psychological observation and returns
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him to the shoe with a recommendation that he has
a cellmate. Epstein is housed with another inmate. Inmate one
July eleventh, twenty nineteen, an mcc New York psychologist meets
with Epstein briefly and recommends follow up visit to occur
the next week. July fifteenth, twenty nineteen, According to court records,
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Epstein appears in court for his detention hearing July sixteenth,
twenty nineteen. At Epstein's request, an mcc New York psychologist
meets with him during a legal visit. July eighteenth, twenty nineteen.
According to court records, Epstein appears in court for a
ruling on the issue of detention. The court orders at
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Epstein be detained pending trial because he presents a danger
to the community and he is a flight risk. The
psychology department conducts a thirty day psychology review for the
entire shoe population. Epstein is not in the shoe at
the time, and therefore his review is not conducted. July
(30:58):
twenty second, twenty nineteen, according to court records, Epstein files
an appeal of the court's order denying epstein pre trial release.
July twenty three, twenty nineteen, at approximately one twenty seven am,
Shoe staff hears noises coming from Epstein's cell. Epstein cell
mate inmate number one says that Epstein has attempted to
(31:21):
hang himself. Shoe staff observes Epstein lying on the floor
with a piece of orange cloth around his neck. Epstein
initially tells mcc new York staff that his cell mate
tried to kill him. Epstein cell mate inmate one tells
emcc new York staff that while he was asleep, he
felt something hit his legs and when he turns on
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the light, he saw Epstein with a string around his
neck and call the guards. Epstein is transferred out of
the shoe and placed on suicide watch in a cell
near the Psychology Department and Health Services Unit. Later that morning,
health Services Unit person conduct a medical assessment and observe
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that Epstein has red marks two thirds of the way
around the front and sides of his neck. The BOP
assesses Epstein for risk of suicide and determines that he
should remain on suicide watch. July twenty fourth, twenty nineteen,
at approximately eight forty five am, Epstein is removed from
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suicide watch, but remains under psychological observation in the same
cell near the Psychology Department and Health Services Unit. Medical
staff examine Epstein at one o eight pm, and psychological
services staff complete oppost suicide watch report. In contrast to
his prior statement that his cellmate tried to kill him,
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Epstein does not remember how he sustained the injuries to
his neck. July twenty fifth through July twenty ninth, twenty nineteen,
Epstein is seen by the Psychology department daily, and on
each date adamantly denies being suicidal or having any memory
of what occurred. On July twenty three, twenty nineteen. July
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twenty ninth, twenty nineteen, Psychology Department staff determine that Epstein
can be released from psychological observation and transferred back to
the Shoe. Disc failures occur in DVR two of MCC
New York security camera system, which result in the system
being unable to record, although the cameras continue to work
(33:31):
and broadcast live video feed, MCC New York personnel do
not learn of the DVR two recording failure until August eighth,
two days before Epstein's death. Roughly half of MCC's New
York security cameras, including those located in the Shoe, are
assigned to record to the DVR two system. July thirtieth,
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twenty nineteen, Epstein is transferred back to the Shoe. An
MCC New York staff psychologists from the psycho Collegy Department
sends an email to over seventy BOP staff members stating
that Epstein needs to be housed with an appropriate cell mate.
Epstein and his new cell mate in May three are
placed in a cell within the Shoe that can accommodate
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the electrical needs of Epstein's medical device. MCC New York
conducts disciplinary proceedings against Epstein for alleged self mutilation and
ultimately concludes that there is insufficient evidence to find that
Epstein engaged in a prohibited act. When Epstein is psychologically
evaluated in connection with the disciplinary proceedings, he said he
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does not remember how he sustained the marks around his neck.
Mcc new York personnel attempt to obtain an estimate from
Company one to run the wiring and conduit for the
new camera system, which would eliminate the need for BOP
technicians to perform the work. July thirty, first, twenty nineteen,
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according to court records, Epstein appears in court for a
status conference, at which time the court sets deadlines for
emotions and responses. Upon his return to mcc New York,
the US Martial Service provide paperwork to BOP that indicates
Epstein had suicidal tendencies. The Psychology Department conducts a clinical
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visit with Epstein, who denies any suicidal thoughts. August first,
twenty nineteen, mcc new York Receiving and Discharge staff notify
the Psychology Department of the rotation of suicidal tendencies on
US Martiall Service paperwork relating to Ebstein. The Psychology department
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conducts a suicide risk assessment of Epstein, who denies that
he is suicidal and determines that suicide watch is not warranted.
Psychological staff recommend a follow up in one week August two,
twenty nineteen. Mcc new York Special Eventstigative Services completes its
investigation into the incident on July twenty three, twenty nineteen,
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and finds that there is insufficient evidence to determine that
Epstein harmed himself or that he was harmed by his cellmate.
August eighth, twenty nineteen, Epstein is seen in the Psychology
department and denies suicidal ideation, intention, or plan. Epstein meets
with his attorneys and, unbeknownst to the mcc new York personnel,
(36:31):
changes his last will and testament. During the meeting, mcc
new York staff received notice that Epstein's cellmate will be
transferred out of the institution. The following day, August ninth,
mcc new York staff discover the disc failures that occurred
in the DVR two system on July twenty ninth that
(36:51):
resulted in approximately one half of the institution security cameras
not recording, although the cameras continued to broadcast as the
live video feed, MCC new York staff do not perform
the work necessary to restore recording functionality of the DVR
two system or address long standing performance failures with the
(37:14):
institution's camera system. August ninth, twenty nineteen, at approximately eight
thirty am, epstein cellmate in May three is transferred out
of mcc new York. Two mcc new York staff members
said they notified supervisory staff of epstein cellmate transfer and
(37:35):
Epstein's need for a new cellmate. Other witnesses did not
corroborate these statements. Epstein is not assigned to new cellmate
as required by the Psychology Department. Some time between eight
am and nine am, Epstein meets with his attorneys in
the Shoe Attorney conference room. Sometime prior to one pm,
(37:56):
Epstein's attorneys ask mcc new York staff members if Epstein
could be moved to a different housing unit or housed
with the cellmate. Mcc new York staff obtain the replacement
hard drives to repair the institution security camera system, but
do not complete the repairs necessary to restore the recording
(38:17):
functionality and address long standing performance failures within the institution's
DVR two system. Every days lets take details. The US
Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit unseals approximately two
thousand pages of documents in civil litigation involving Glaine Maxwell,
who was later convicted in December of twenty twenty one
(38:40):
of conspiring with Epstein to sexually abuse minors over the
course of a decade. Some of these documents contain information
that may relate to the criminal charges pending against Epstein.
There is extensive media coverage of information in the unsealed documents.
At approximately sixty Epstein leaves the attorney conference room. At
(39:04):
approximately seven pm, contrary to GOP policy, but with the
permission of a unit manager, Epstein is permitted to place
an unmonitored telephone call to a number with a New
York City area code, purportedly to speak with his mother.
In actuality, Epstein speaks with somebody whom he allegedly has
(39:24):
a personal relationship. After the call, Epstein is returned to
his cell where he remains without a cell mate. Mcc
New York Shoe staff members do not conduct the four
PM or ten pm inmate counts. After approximately ten forty PM,
Shoe staff members do not conduct or required thirty minute rounds.
(39:47):
August tenth, twenty nineteen, mcc New York Shoe staff members
do not conduct the twelve am, three am or five
am inmate counts or any of the thirty minute rounds
from twelve am until approximately six thirty am. At approximately
six thirty am, shoe staff begin to deliver breakfast to
(40:09):
inmates in the shoe through the foot slots in the
locked cell doors. When shoe staff attempt to deliver breakfast
to Epstein, shoe staff unlocked the door to the tier
in which Epstein's cell was located and then knock on
the door to Epstein's cell. Epstein, who is housed a
loan in the cell, does not respond to the shoe staff.
(40:30):
Shoe staff unlock the cell door and find Epstein hanged
in his cell with one end of a piece of
orange cloth around his neck and the other end tied
to the top portion of a bunk bed in Epstein's cell.
Epstein is suspended from the top bunk in a near
seated position, with his buttocks approximately one inch to one
(40:51):
inch and a half off the floor and his legs
extended straight out on the floor in front of him.
Shoe staff immediately activate a body alarm, which notified all
mcc new York staff of a medical emergency and prompted
mcc new York staff in the control center to call
for nine to one to one emergency services. Shoe staff
(41:14):
then rip the orange cloth away from the bunk bed,
which causes Ebstein's buttocks to drop to the ground. Shoe
staff lay Abstein on the ground and immediately initiate CPR.
At approximately six thirty three am, BOP medical staff respond
to the shoe, continue CPR, apply the automated external defibrillator,
(41:36):
and move Ebstein to mcc new York's Health Services Unit.
Minutes after arriving in the Health Services Unit, an ambulance
arrives in. Paramedics continue CPR, intbate Epstein, and administer medications
and fluids. At approximately seven ten am, the ambulance takes
Ebstein to New York Presbyterian Lower Manhattan Hospital, where is
(42:00):
pronounced dead at seven thirty six a m by the
emergency room physician. Mcc new York staff unsuccessfully attempts to
recover video from the DVR two system of the shoe
and the BOP begins repairing the DVR two system. The
FBI seizes all hard drives contained in the DVR two
(42:20):
system as evidence. August eleventh, twenty nineteen, the Office of
the Chief Medical Examiner, City of New York conducts an
autopsy of Epstein. August fourteenth. August fifteenth, twenty nineteen, the
FBI returns to mcc New York and seizes additional components
(42:42):
of the DVR two system and the entire DVR one system.
The FBI's Digital Forensic Analysis Unit in Quantico, Virginia, begins
to conduct a forensic analysis of mcc New York's DVR
systems and determined that there were catastrophic disc value in
the DVR two system disc array, and no recordings were
(43:03):
available on the DVR system after July twenty ninth, twenty nineteen.
August sixteenth, twenty nineteen, the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner,
City of New York releases its findings publicly that the
cause of Epstein's death was hanging and that the manner
of death was suicide. All right, folks, that's going to
(43:26):
do it. For Chapter three. The timeline of key events,
all of the information that goes with the episode can
be found in the description box before Sarah discover
And welcome back to the Epstein Chronicles. In this episode,
we're going to pick up the conversation with the Inspector
General's report into the death of Jeffrey Epstein and the
circumstances surrounding it in the last episode we left off.
After we were done discussing methodology, now comes applicable law
(00:21):
regulations and BOP policy Section A Standards of Conduct. The
Standards of Ethical Conduct for Employees of the Executive Branch
sets out general principles that are designed to ensure that
every citizen can have complete confidence in the integrity of
the federal government. Among other things, these standards require that
(00:44):
every federal employee use official time in an honest effort
to perform official duties. The Ethical regulations also mandate that
federal employees not use federal property for other than authorized
activitiesp Policy Program Statement thirty four to twenty dot eleven
(01:04):
Standards of Employee Conduct, imposes several additional standards of conduct
on its employees. At all times, BOP employees must conduct
themselves in a manner that fosters respect for the Bureau
of Prisons, the Department of Justice, and the US government.
Because in attention to duty in a correctional environment can
(01:26):
result in escapes, assaults, and other incidents. BOP employees are
required to remain fully alert and attentive during duty hours.
BOP policy provides that employees can use government property for
authorized purposes only, and further specifies that personal use of
government office equipment, such as computers, will not take place
(01:49):
during official working hours. BOP policy requires that employees obey
the orders of their superiors at all times. Section B
false statements and lack of candor Under federal law, whoever,
in any matter within the jurisdiction of the Executive Branch
of the Government of the United States, knowingly and wilfully
(02:13):
makes or uses any false writing or document, knowing the
same to contain any material, false, fictitious, or fraudulent statement
or entry, has violated Title eighteen US Code, Section one
zero zero one A and three. The terms knowingly and
wilfully mean that the subject acted with the knowledge that
(02:35):
the conduct was, in a general sense, prohibited by law.
It is not required that the subject was aware of
the existence of Section one zero zero one. Under the
BOP standards of conduct discussed above, employees are required to
cooperate fully with the investigations, which includes providing all pertinent
(02:58):
information they may have and truthfully responding to questions. Part
C Relevant BOP policies regarding the operation of correctional facilities
one Special housing units. Shoes within GOP facilities are governed
by Federal Regulations twenty eight CFR five forty one dot
(03:22):
twenty one DASH five forty one dot thirty three. These
regulations provide that the BOP may establish shoes where inmates
are securely separated from the general inmate population. These regulations
and BOP Policy Program Statement fifty two seventy dot eleven
Special housing Units explain that inmates in the shoe are
(03:44):
either on administrative detention or disciplinary segregation status. Administrative segregation
status is a non punitive designation that removes an inmate
from the general population when necessary to ensure the safety, security,
and orderly operation of correctional facilities or protect the public.
(04:06):
There are several reasons an inmate can be placed in
administrative detention status, including when an inmate's presence in the
general inmate population presents a threat to self or others,
or when administrative detention status is necessary for the protection
of the inmate. Assignment to the Shoe for protection. Reasons
(04:27):
can be based on being a victim of an assault,
acting or being perceived as an informant, refusing to enter
general population, or because of staff concerns about the inmate safety.
Inmates in the Shoe are securely separated from the general
population inmates and are kept locked in their cell when
(04:47):
in their assignedier within the Shoe. As discussed in greater
detail in Chapter four, witnesses told the OIG that Shoe
inmates are locked in their cells for approximately twenty three
hours a day. BOP policy provides that weather and resources permitting,
Shoe inmates will have the opportunity to exercise outside their
(05:09):
quarters five hours per calendar week. Under federal regulations and
BOP policy, Shoe inmates ordinarily have the opportunity to shower
at least three times a week, typically on different days,
in one hour periods. Shoe inmates may also be escorted
from their cells by mcc new York staff for visits,
(05:31):
including legal visits, court appearances, medical and psychological attention. The
mcc new York Shoe post orders require that all visitors
to the Shoe be documented in a visitor log, and
that any inmate visiting the shoe, such as inmates on
work details, be searched visually and with a handheld metal
(05:53):
detector without exception. The mcc New York Shoe Post orders
also require that food cards be searched inside and out
before being brought into a shoe cell block, and that
all meals be delivered to each inmates cell through the
food slot in the inmates lock cell door. BOP policy
(06:14):
provides that inmates housed in the shoe for thirty continuous
calendar days are to be examined and interviewed by a
mental health staff member to assess the inmates adjustment and
the threat presented to self or others. BOP policy also
requires that all staff assigned to the shoe participate in
(06:36):
quarterly training on, among other things, orderly supervision, suicide prevention,
and security procedures relating to the unit. When a staff
member is assigned to the shoe at the last minute
and has not completed the quarterly training, the staff member
must be advised of the general requirements of a shoe
(06:56):
post and be permitted to ask questions about the duties. Two.
Inmate accountability a headcount. Inmate counts serve as an important
security function, and they enable CEOs to ensure that all
inmates are accounted for and present at the appropriate location
within the facility. BOP policy requires that each institution conduct
(07:21):
at a minimum five official inmate counts during every twenty
four hour period, and that on weekends and holidays an
additional account will be conducted at ten am. At least
one count a day during the week, and two counts
a day on weekends and holidays must be stand up counts,
which means that inmates are required to stand when they
(07:42):
are counted. Mcc new York Shoe post orders designate that
counts must occur at twelve am, three am, five am,
four pm, and that stand up counts are to be
conducted at ten pm daily and also at ten am
on weekends and federal holidays. The BOP requires that each
(08:03):
count be conducted by at least two officers, one of
whom will count the inmates while the other observes the
unit for any unauthorized movement from the end of the tier.
This requirement is also set out in the mcc new
York Shoe post orders. The two officers will then switch
rolls and compare the count numbers. If the totals do
(08:27):
not match, then the officers must conduct another count in
the same manner. When conducting the count, officers are required
to observe each inmate's body and not rely solely on
movement or sound. Officers conducting the count relay the count
verbally to the control center, which maintains the master count
(08:47):
of all inmates, and then remain in the unit until
the control center accepts the count. If a count reported
verbally does not match the master count, then the control
center must notify the Operations lieutenant and the staff members
must recount the inmates. If the second count does not
match the master count, then the Operations lieutenant will order
(09:09):
a bedbook count. That is, when inmates are counted using
their picture cards, which are on file in the control center.
A lieutenant must take at least one count in the
morning and one in the evening. Correctional staff prepare count
slips for each count, which must be prepared in inc,
signed by both officers, and retained for thirty days. Count
(09:32):
slips may not be altered. BOP policy provides that the
official count will not be cleared until all count slips
are received and verified in the control center. B thirty
minute rounds. The GOP uses additional accountability measures for inmates
who are in administrative detention or disciplinary segregation IE for
(09:56):
those detained in CHEW. In such cases, a correctional staff
member must observe all inmates at least twice an hour,
once during the first thirty minutes eg. Twelve am to
twelve thirty am, and again during the second thirty minutes eg.
Twelve thirty am to one am. BOP policy provides that
(10:16):
these rounds are to be conducted on an irregular schedule
and no more than forty minutes apart. These same requirements
for rounds are also described in the post orders for
the MCC's New York Shoe ce documentation regarding inmate status
and confinement. BOP policy also provides that each institution must
(10:40):
prepare a daily change Transfer sheet, which indicates changes to
an inmate status, including housing and job assignments, and medical convalescence.
The mcc New York Shoe post orders require that correctional
staff assigned to the Shoe create a shoe file for
each inmate housed in that unit, and that morning watch
(11:01):
officers audit the inmate files every night. The MCC New
York Shoe post orders further specify that all pertinent information
about an inmate's confinement should be noted on a special
Housing unit record form BP two ninety two, and that
shoe officers must maintain a log of pertinent information regarding
(11:24):
inmate activity and enter such information into the BOP computer
system true Scope, which provides institution staff with detailed inmate
and institution security related information and provides unit officers an
electronic of en log d sell searches. BOP policy requires
(11:45):
that BOP staff routinely and irregularly search housing units, too,
among other things, to maintain sanitary standards and eliminate safety hazards.
The mcc New York shoe post orders require that officers
assigned to the shoe conduct searches of the shoe common
areas and sells, and that the entire shoe be searched
(12:08):
every week. BOP policy and mcc new York shoe post
orders require written documentation of each housing unit search. Three.
Psychological screening, a initial screening pursue into BOP policy governing
inmates in pre trial Detention Status program. All pre trial
(12:30):
inmates must have an initial risk needs assessment screening within
forty eight hours of admission to the institution. The goal
of this screening is to determine the inmates security, medical, psychological,
and or other special needs. The BOP also requires that
institutions screen pre trial inmates returning from court, as events
(12:53):
at court may alter the inmates separation and or security needs.
BOP policy further recognizes that there are often high security,
high profile inmates who may present a significant threat to
themselves or others, and that the need to identify and
monitor these inmates regularly is paramount b suicide prevention. The
(13:17):
BOP suicide prevention program is governed by federal regulations twenty
eight CFR Section five fifty two dot forty Dash five
fifty two dot forty two, which require the BP to
establish a suicide prevention program to identify and manage potentially
suicidal inmates. Pursuingto these regulations, when an inmate identified as
(13:42):
being at risk for committing suicide, BOP staff must place
the inmate on suicide watch until the inmate is no
longer an eminent risk. BOP policy program Statement fifty three
twenty four dot zero eight suicide Prevention program require is
that medical staff screen all new inmates ordinarrowly within twenty
(14:04):
four hours for signs of being suicidal. However, at MCCs
among other facilities with high rates of admission and short
lengths of stays, comprehensive psychological intake conducted by psychology services
ordinarily will be performed only on inmates who are suspected
(14:24):
of being suicidal or who appear psychologically unstable. Inmates in
the Shoe are monitored more closely, and inmates exhibiting signs
of potential suicide risk are referred to the shift lieutenant.
BOP policy recognizes that inmates who are placed in the
shoe due to a request for protective custody are at
(14:45):
greater risk for committing suicide and should therefore be screened
for suicidal ideation within seventy two hours of arriving in
the shoe. BOP policy explicitly states that staff must never
take lightly any inmate suicide threats. Any staff member who
has reason to believe that an inmate may be suicidal
(15:08):
should ordinarily maintain the inmate under direct continuous observation. Every
BOP institution must have one or more rooms, ordinarily in
the health services area, dedicated to inmates placed on suicide watch.
Suicide watch may be conducted by specially trained staff or inmates.
(15:29):
For inmates placed on suicide watch, the specially trained staff
or inmate maintains continuous observation of the inmate believed to
be at risk of committing suicide. Following suicide watch and
based on clinical findings, following a face to face evaluation,
the inmate will be removed from suicide watch or transferred
(15:50):
to a medical referral or a health care facility. Psychological
observation is a less restrictive form of individual monitoring that
is used for inmates who are stabilizing and not yet
prepared for replacement in general population or restrictive housing. While
on suicide watch, the inmate is normally required to wear
(16:12):
a suicide watch gown and will be allowed a suicide
watch blanket. As discussed in greater detail in Chapter four,
witnesses told the OIG that an inmate is placed on
suicide watch when the inmate is believed to be eminently suicidal.
During suicide watch, the inmate is under constant observation by staff.
(16:34):
The cell lights are on twenty four hours a day,
and the inmate is given a special mattress, blankets, and
a smock to wear. Although psychological observation is a lower classification.
Witnesses told the OIG that at mcc new York, the
psychological observation was the same as a suicide watch, except
(16:55):
that inmates were allowed to have their clothing and some
materials such as books as determined by the psychology department.
At mcc new York, psychological observation was used to see
how an inmate was doing before releasing the inmate to
a housing unit. Luckily, suicide response. Recognizing that failure to
(17:17):
appropriately respond to an emergency can jeopardize the safety of
staff and inmates and the security of the institution, the
BOP Standards of Employee Conduct require that employees respond immediately, effectively,
and appropriately during all emergency situations. The mcc new York
(17:39):
General Housing Unit post orders outline the required response to
a suspected inmate suicide. These orders require that mcc new
York staff notify the Operations Lieutenant and Control Center of
the situation. The orders further provide that once there is
adequate staff present, immediate action must be taken to open
(18:01):
the inmates airway and initiate CPR. Even if mcc new
York staff believe that the inmate has been dead for
a period of time. Mcc New York staff are to
continue CPR until they are relieved by medical staff or
another rescuer. The BOP policy governing crime scenes and the
(18:22):
collection of evidence provides that the need to immediately attend
to an apparent suicide victim, undertake life saving measures, and
ensure inmate and staff safety take precedent over efforts to
preserve a crime scene. Five Inmate Discipline. Federal Regulations twenty
eight c DOT FR five forty one Dot one DASH
(18:46):
five forty one Dot eight and BOP Policy establish an
inmate discipline program which is designed to ensure the safety, security,
and orderly operation of correctional facilities, as well as the
protection of the public. The Inmate Discipline Program applies to
all inmates in BOP custody, including inmates with pending criminal charges.
(19:10):
One of the guiding principles of this program is that
BP staff are to take disciplinary action when and to
such a degree as necessary to regulate the behavior of
inmates to promote a safe and orderly institution. Tattooing or
self mutilation is among the prohibited acts sanctioned through the
(19:30):
Inmate Discipline Program. This prohibited act falls within the second
most severe category of offenses on a four tier scale.
The BOP defines tattooing or self mutilation as to put
indelible patterns on the skin to injure, disfigure, or make
imperfect by removing or irreparably damaging parts of the body.
(19:53):
Risk cutting falls within this offense. The definition does not
make an explicit reference to suicide attempts other than inclusion
of risk cutting, among other things. BOP policy addressing the
inmate's discipline program identifies the prohibited acts, describes the process
for adjudicating violations and less applicable penalties for each category
(20:17):
of offense as relevant to this matter. The discipline process
begins when a staff member observes an inmate commit a
prohibited act and issues a report documenting the incident. A
BOP supervisor then investigates the alleged inmate misconduct, which includes
taking a statement from the inmate regarding the incident. If
(20:40):
an inmate appears to be mentally ill at any stage
of the disciplinary process, a mental health staff member will
examine the inmate and assess the inmate's competency to participate
in the disciplinary process. If the inmate is found to
be competent and the prohibited act falls into the first
or sex second most severe category, the matter is referred
(21:03):
to a discipline hearing officer, who will hold a hearing
and make a determination as to whether the inmate committed
the prohibited act, and, if so, impose any of the
sanctions that correspond to the severity of the prohibited act.
At the hearing, the inmate is advised of his or
her rights and permitted to choose a staff representative, make
(21:26):
a statement, and call witnesses. The inmate is also allowed
to appeal the outcome through the BOP's Administrative Remedy Program.
Six conditions of confinement a telephone calls. The Federal regulations
twenty eight c dot f dot R five forty dot
(21:47):
one hundred five forty dot oneh six that govern telephone
calls for inmates require that the warden of each BOP
institution established procedures to monitor inmate telephone camp conversations, which
is done to preserve the security and orderly management of
the institution and to protect the public for safety and
(22:08):
security reasons. BOP Policy Program Statement P. Five two six
four dot zero eight Inmate telephone regulations requires that all
inmate telephone calls be made through the inmate telephone system.
BOP policy recognizes that, on rare occasions, during times of crisis,
(22:29):
inmates may be permitted to make a telephone call outside
of the inmate telephone system. In such circumstances, the telephone
must be placed in a secure area eg. A locked office,
and must be set to record telephone calls. Additionally, the
staff member coordinating the call must notify the BOPS Special
(22:49):
Investigative Services via email, providing the inmate's name and register number,
the date and time of the call, the number and
name of the individual called, and the reason for the call.
The Special Investigative Services must enter this information into the
telephone recording system within seven days. B Personal Effects, medication
(23:13):
and linens. Federal regulations governing BOP shoes provide that inmates
in administrative detention status ordinarily may have a reasonable amount
of personal property. Under BOP policy regarding shoes, the personal
property of shoe inmates may be limited or withheld for
(23:33):
reasons of security, fire safety, or housekeeping. The BOP Chief
Pharmacist issues medication each workday for inmates in the shoe.
Restricted medications are administered to inmates during daily shoe rounds.
Each institution determines the medication or medications the amount number
(23:54):
of days an inmate in shoe may maintain in their cell.
Inmates may also purchase pre approved over the counter medications
at the Commissary. MCC new York General Housing Units post
orders provide that when an inmate is released or transferred
out of a housing unit, the inmate will remove all
(24:15):
limited and government issued clothing from the cell in which
the inmate was previously housed. These post orders further specify
that all cells are to be cleaned daily body inmates
occupying the cell, and that blankets, towels, and other linens
will not be used as rugs or hungover inmate bunk
beds at any time. Pursuant to these post orders, MCC
(24:40):
new York Housing Unit officers on all three ships are
responsible for maintaining a high level of sanitation and a safe,
clean environment. All right, folks. So that's gonna wrap up
chapter two, and the next time we get to it,
we'll be talking about the timeline of key events in
chapter three, all right, folks. Until then, all of the
(25:02):
information that goes with the episode can be found in
the description box Spice Uppeers Lost Everyone and welcome back
to the Epstein Chronicles. In this episode, we're going to
continue with the Office of Inspector General's report into the
death of Jeffrey Epstein and the circumstances surrounding it. We
(25:24):
left off with chapter two, and in this episode we're
gonna pick right back up with chapter three. So let's
get to it. Chapter three. Timeline of key events, except
as otherwise noted, The following information is derived from the
Federal Bureau of Prisons records and the Office of the
(25:46):
Inspector General's interviews. September twenty first through the twenty fourth,
twenty eighteen, The BOP awards contracts to two companies, Company
one and two to upgrade the security camera SYSM at
Metropolitan Correctional Center in New York, New York MCC New York.
(26:06):
At the time. Images from the MCC New York's analog
video cameras are recorded to a digital video recorder system,
which is divided into two DVR systems. Cameras assigned to
the DVR one system record only to the DVR one
hard drives, and cameras assigned to DVR two system record
(26:27):
only to the DVR two hard drives. March seventeen, twenty nineteen,
in connection with the MCC's New York upgrade of its
security camera system, the BOP's Northeast Regional Office begins arranging
for technicians from other BOP institutions to perform temporary duty
(26:49):
assignments to MCC New York to perform necessary mechanical, electrical,
plumbing and wiring work. However, the course of the TDY
rotations work is not consistently conducted on the camera upgrade
because TDY personnel are sometimes used to cover shortages at
(27:11):
MCC's New York custody posts. July second, twenty nineteen, according
to court records, a federal grand jury of the US
District Court for the Southern District of New York returns
an indictment charging Epstein with sex trafficking and conspiracy to
commit sex trafficking. July sixth, twenty nineteen, Epstein is arrested
(27:36):
at an airport, New Jersey and transported for detention pending
his initial court appearance to the MCC New York. As
a pre trial detainee. Epstein is placed in the general
inmate population and is medically screened an mcc new York
facilities assistant as the Psychology Department to evaluate Epstein because
(27:58):
he appears distraught, sad, and a little confused. Epstein is
assigned to the mcc new York Special Housing Unit because
of significant media attention and his notoriety among other MCC
new York inmates. July eighth, twenty nineteen, according to court records,
(28:19):
Epstein is arraigned in federal court and enters a plea
of not guilty to all charges. The court sets a
detention hearing for July fifteenth of twenty nineteen. Mcc new
York staff conducts a routine intake screening of Epstein, the
records of which indicate that Epstein denies the history of
any mental health problems. After the Chief Psychologist consults with
(28:44):
a National Suicide Prevention Coordinator from BOP Central Office, the
Psychology Department conducts a further evaluation of Epstein after his
return from court. Record show that Epstein denies any suicidal thoughts,
but was placed on psychological observation due to the presence
of risk factors, high profile case nature of the charges,
(29:06):
pre trial status, and ongoing proceedings. July ninth, twenty nineteen,
the Psychology Department administers a formal in person suicide risk
assessment for Epstein. The Psychology Department continues psychological observation for
another day, pending a suitable housing placement. July tenth, twenty nineteen,
(29:31):
the Psychology Department administers a formal in person suicide risk
assessment for Epstein. The Psychology Department continues psychological observation for
another day, pending a suitable housing placement. July tenth, twenty nineteen,
the Psychology Department removes Epstein from psychological observation and returns
(29:54):
him to the shoe with a recommendation that he has
a cellmate. Epstein is housed with another inmate. Inmate one
July eleventh, twenty nineteen, an mcc New York psychologist meets
with Epstein briefly and recommends follow up visit to occur
the next week. July fifteenth, twenty nineteen, According to court records,
(30:16):
Epstein appears in court for his detention hearing July sixteenth,
twenty nineteen. At Epstein's request, an mcc New York psychologist
meets with him during a legal visit. July eighteenth, twenty nineteen.
According to court records, Epstein appears in court for a
ruling on the issue of detention. The court orders at
(30:38):
Epstein be detained pending trial because he presents a danger
to the community and he is a flight risk. The
psychology department conducts a thirty day psychology review for the
entire shoe population. Epstein is not in the shoe at
the time, and therefore his review is not conducted. July
(30:58):
twenty second, twenty nineteen, according to court records, Epstein files
an appeal of the court's order denying epstein pre trial release.
July twenty three, twenty nineteen, at approximately one twenty seven am,
Shoe staff hears noises coming from Epstein's cell. Epstein cell
mate inmate number one says that Epstein has attempted to
(31:21):
hang himself. Shoe staff observes Epstein lying on the floor
with a piece of orange cloth around his neck. Epstein
initially tells mcc new York staff that his cell mate
tried to kill him. Epstein cell mate inmate one tells
emcc new York staff that while he was asleep, he
felt something hit his legs and when he turns on
(31:42):
the light, he saw Epstein with a string around his
neck and call the guards. Epstein is transferred out of
the shoe and placed on suicide watch in a cell
near the Psychology Department and Health Services Unit. Later that morning,
health Services Unit person conduct a medical assessment and observe
(32:03):
that Epstein has red marks two thirds of the way
around the front and sides of his neck. The BOP
assesses Epstein for risk of suicide and determines that he
should remain on suicide watch. July twenty fourth, twenty nineteen,
at approximately eight forty five am, Epstein is removed from
(32:23):
suicide watch, but remains under psychological observation in the same
cell near the Psychology Department and Health Services Unit. Medical
staff examine Epstein at one o eight pm, and psychological
services staff complete oppost suicide watch report. In contrast to
his prior statement that his cellmate tried to kill him,
(32:45):
Epstein does not remember how he sustained the injuries to
his neck. July twenty fifth through July twenty ninth, twenty nineteen,
Epstein is seen by the Psychology department daily, and on
each date adamantly denies being suicidal or having any memory
of what occurred. On July twenty three, twenty nineteen. July
(33:08):
twenty ninth, twenty nineteen, Psychology Department staff determine that Epstein
can be released from psychological observation and transferred back to
the Shoe. Disc failures occur in DVR two of MCC
New York security camera system, which result in the system
being unable to record, although the cameras continue to work
(33:31):
and broadcast live video feed, MCC New York personnel do
not learn of the DVR two recording failure until August eighth,
two days before Epstein's death. Roughly half of MCC's New
York security cameras, including those located in the Shoe, are
assigned to record to the DVR two system. July thirtieth,
(33:52):
twenty nineteen, Epstein is transferred back to the Shoe. An
MCC New York staff psychologists from the psycho Collegy Department
sends an email to over seventy BOP staff members stating
that Epstein needs to be housed with an appropriate cell mate.
Epstein and his new cell mate in May three are
placed in a cell within the Shoe that can accommodate
(34:15):
the electrical needs of Epstein's medical device. MCC New York
conducts disciplinary proceedings against Epstein for alleged self mutilation and
ultimately concludes that there is insufficient evidence to find that
Epstein engaged in a prohibited act. When Epstein is psychologically
evaluated in connection with the disciplinary proceedings, he said he
(34:39):
does not remember how he sustained the marks around his neck.
Mcc new York personnel attempt to obtain an estimate from
Company one to run the wiring and conduit for the
new camera system, which would eliminate the need for BOP
technicians to perform the work. July thirty, first, twenty nineteen,
(35:00):
according to court records, Epstein appears in court for a
status conference, at which time the court sets deadlines for
emotions and responses. Upon his return to mcc New York,
the US Martial Service provide paperwork to BOP that indicates
Epstein had suicidal tendencies. The Psychology Department conducts a clinical
(35:23):
visit with Epstein, who denies any suicidal thoughts. August first,
twenty nineteen, mcc new York Receiving and Discharge staff notify
the Psychology Department of the rotation of suicidal tendencies on
US Martiall Service paperwork relating to Ebstein. The Psychology department
(35:43):
conducts a suicide risk assessment of Epstein, who denies that
he is suicidal and determines that suicide watch is not warranted.
Psychological staff recommend a follow up in one week August two,
twenty nineteen. Mcc new York Special Eventstigative Services completes its
investigation into the incident on July twenty three, twenty nineteen,
(36:07):
and finds that there is insufficient evidence to determine that
Epstein harmed himself or that he was harmed by his cellmate.
August eighth, twenty nineteen, Epstein is seen in the Psychology
department and denies suicidal ideation, intention, or plan. Epstein meets
with his attorneys and, unbeknownst to the mcc new York personnel,
(36:31):
changes his last will and testament. During the meeting, mcc
new York staff received notice that Epstein's cellmate will be
transferred out of the institution. The following day, August ninth,
mcc new York staff discover the disc failures that occurred
in the DVR two system on July twenty ninth that
(36:51):
resulted in approximately one half of the institution security cameras
not recording, although the cameras continued to broadcast as the
live video feed, MCC new York staff do not perform
the work necessary to restore recording functionality of the DVR
two system or address long standing performance failures with the
(37:14):
institution's camera system. August ninth, twenty nineteen, at approximately eight
thirty am, epstein cellmate in May three is transferred out
of mcc new York. Two mcc new York staff members
said they notified supervisory staff of epstein cellmate transfer and
(37:35):
Epstein's need for a new cellmate. Other witnesses did not
corroborate these statements. Epstein is not assigned to new cellmate
as required by the Psychology Department. Some time between eight
am and nine am, Epstein meets with his attorneys in
the Shoe Attorney conference room. Sometime prior to one pm,
(37:56):
Epstein's attorneys ask mcc new York staff members if Epstein
could be moved to a different housing unit or housed
with the cellmate. Mcc new York staff obtain the replacement
hard drives to repair the institution security camera system, but
do not complete the repairs necessary to restore the recording
(38:17):
functionality and address long standing performance failures within the institution's
DVR two system. Every days lets take details. The US
Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit unseals approximately two
thousand pages of documents in civil litigation involving Glaine Maxwell,
who was later convicted in December of twenty twenty one
(38:40):
of conspiring with Epstein to sexually abuse minors over the
course of a decade. Some of these documents contain information
that may relate to the criminal charges pending against Epstein.
There is extensive media coverage of information in the unsealed documents.
At approximately sixty Epstein leaves the attorney conference room. At
(39:04):
approximately seven pm, contrary to GOP policy, but with the
permission of a unit manager, Epstein is permitted to place
an unmonitored telephone call to a number with a New
York City area code, purportedly to speak with his mother.
In actuality, Epstein speaks with somebody whom he allegedly has
(39:24):
a personal relationship. After the call, Epstein is returned to
his cell where he remains without a cell mate. Mcc
New York Shoe staff members do not conduct the four
PM or ten pm inmate counts. After approximately ten forty PM,
Shoe staff members do not conduct or required thirty minute rounds.
(39:47):
August tenth, twenty nineteen, mcc New York Shoe staff members
do not conduct the twelve am, three am or five
am inmate counts or any of the thirty minute rounds
from twelve am until approximately six thirty am. At approximately
six thirty am, shoe staff begin to deliver breakfast to
(40:09):
inmates in the shoe through the foot slots in the
locked cell doors. When shoe staff attempt to deliver breakfast
to Epstein, shoe staff unlocked the door to the tier
in which Epstein's cell was located and then knock on
the door to Epstein's cell. Epstein, who is housed a
loan in the cell, does not respond to the shoe staff.
(40:30):
Shoe staff unlock the cell door and find Epstein hanged
in his cell with one end of a piece of
orange cloth around his neck and the other end tied
to the top portion of a bunk bed in Epstein's cell.
Epstein is suspended from the top bunk in a near
seated position, with his buttocks approximately one inch to one
(40:51):
inch and a half off the floor and his legs
extended straight out on the floor in front of him.
Shoe staff immediately activate a body alarm, which notified all
mcc new York staff of a medical emergency and prompted
mcc new York staff in the control center to call
for nine to one to one emergency services. Shoe staff
(41:14):
then rip the orange cloth away from the bunk bed,
which causes Ebstein's buttocks to drop to the ground. Shoe
staff lay Abstein on the ground and immediately initiate CPR.
At approximately six thirty three am, BOP medical staff respond
to the shoe, continue CPR, apply the automated external defibrillator,
(41:36):
and move Ebstein to mcc new York's Health Services Unit.
Minutes after arriving in the Health Services Unit, an ambulance
arrives in. Paramedics continue CPR, intbate Epstein, and administer medications
and fluids. At approximately seven ten am, the ambulance takes
Ebstein to New York Presbyterian Lower Manhattan Hospital, where is
(42:00):
pronounced dead at seven thirty six a m by the
emergency room physician. Mcc new York staff unsuccessfully attempts to
recover video from the DVR two system of the shoe
and the BOP begins repairing the DVR two system. The
FBI seizes all hard drives contained in the DVR two
(42:20):
system as evidence. August eleventh, twenty nineteen, the Office of
the Chief Medical Examiner, City of New York conducts an
autopsy of Epstein. August fourteenth. August fifteenth, twenty nineteen, the
FBI returns to mcc New York and seizes additional components
(42:42):
of the DVR two system and the entire DVR one system.
The FBI's Digital Forensic Analysis Unit in Quantico, Virginia, begins
to conduct a forensic analysis of mcc New York's DVR
systems and determined that there were catastrophic disc value in
the DVR two system disc array, and no recordings were
(43:03):
available on the DVR system after July twenty ninth, twenty nineteen.
August sixteenth, twenty nineteen, the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner,
City of New York releases its findings publicly that the
cause of Epstein's death was hanging and that the manner
of death was suicide. All right, folks, that's going to
(43:26):
do it. For Chapter three. The timeline of key events,
all of the information that goes with the episode can
be found in the description box before Sarah discover
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