1 00:00:00,280 --> 00:00:04,360 Speaker 1: What's up, everyone, and welcome back to the Epstein Chronicles. 2 00:00:05,599 --> 00:00:09,359 The Inspector General drop their report this week, and that 3 00:00:09,480 --> 00:00:12,880 report is now what we would call the official narrative. 4 00:00:13,240 --> 00:00:16,199 So what we're going to do is we're going to 5 00:00:16,239 --> 00:00:21,239 go through the whole entire Inspector General Report, chapter by chapter, 6 00:00:21,640 --> 00:00:25,239 and we're going to get the official narrative added to 7 00:00:25,280 --> 00:00:29,480 the catalog without any commentary from me. That way, you 8 00:00:29,559 --> 00:00:33,560 have the unadulterated version of what the government says happened here, 9 00:00:33,600 --> 00:00:35,719 and then you can make up your own mind. So, 10 00:00:35,840 --> 00:00:39,119 each one of these episodes that we do about this 11 00:00:39,280 --> 00:00:43,240 Inspector General report will be one chapter. Now, if there 12 00:00:43,280 --> 00:00:46,520 are some exceptionally long chapters, what we'll do is we'll 13 00:00:46,560 --> 00:00:49,840 add two parts to that chapter, but the general format 14 00:00:49,920 --> 00:00:53,640 will be one chapter, one episode until we get through 15 00:00:53,960 --> 00:00:57,520 all one hundred and twenty eight pages. So let's just 16 00:00:57,679 --> 00:01:00,600 dive in, and we're going to start with chapter one, 17 00:01:00,960 --> 00:01:05,159 the introduction. There's a table of contents previously, and when 18 00:01:05,200 --> 00:01:06,840 you click on the link, you'll be able to check 19 00:01:06,840 --> 00:01:09,760 that out for yourself, but we're not going to add 20 00:01:09,760 --> 00:01:12,439 that here. We're just going to add what the Inspector 21 00:01:12,480 --> 00:01:17,040 General found and that starts with Chapter one, the introduction. 22 00:01:19,120 --> 00:01:22,920 The Federal Bureau of Prisons BOP is a component of 23 00:01:23,040 --> 00:01:26,799 the Department of Justice that operates one hundred and twenty 24 00:01:26,840 --> 00:01:31,400 two institutions across the United States. According to its website, 25 00:01:31,480 --> 00:01:36,560 the BOP's current mission statement is corrections professionals who foster 26 00:01:36,680 --> 00:01:40,840 a humane and secure environment to ensure public safety by 27 00:01:40,879 --> 00:01:46,680 preparing individuals for successful re entry into our communities. However, 28 00:01:47,239 --> 00:01:50,959 the DOJ Office of the Inspector General has issued numerous 29 00:01:51,040 --> 00:01:56,239 reports over more than a decade identifying long standing operational 30 00:01:56,319 --> 00:02:00,959 challenges facing the BOP that have negatively effect its ability 31 00:02:01,200 --> 00:02:07,239 to operate its institutions safely and securely. Those reports have 32 00:02:07,359 --> 00:02:11,960 contained dozens of recommendations to BOP. As we detail in 33 00:02:12,000 --> 00:02:17,240 this report, many of those same operational challenges and systemic issues, 34 00:02:17,599 --> 00:02:23,120 including significant staffing shortages providing appropriate custody and cara of 35 00:02:23,159 --> 00:02:27,560 inmates at risk for suicide, the absence of functional security 36 00:02:27,599 --> 00:02:33,560 camera systems and management failures, and widespread disregard of BOP 37 00:02:33,759 --> 00:02:39,439 policies and procedures, were once again identified by the OIG 38 00:02:40,039 --> 00:02:44,000 during the course of this investigation and review into the custody, 39 00:02:44,080 --> 00:02:49,120 care and supervision of one of the Goop's most notorious inmates, 40 00:02:49,719 --> 00:02:54,560 Jeffrey Epstein. We therefore make further recommendations to the BP 41 00:02:55,159 --> 00:02:58,240 in the conclusion of this report to help it address 42 00:02:58,360 --> 00:03:05,680 these reoccurring issues. The OIG initiated this investigation upon the 43 00:03:05,759 --> 00:03:09,719 receipt of information from the BP that the morning of 44 00:03:09,840 --> 00:03:15,479 August tenth, twenty nineteen, in the Metropolitan Correctional Center located 45 00:03:15,759 --> 00:03:20,159 in New York, New York MCC New York, inmate Jeffrey 46 00:03:20,159 --> 00:03:23,919 Epstein was found hanged in his assigned cell within the 47 00:03:23,960 --> 00:03:28,479 Special Housing Unit, or the SHOE. The SHOE is a 48 00:03:28,520 --> 00:03:32,719 housing unit where inmates are securely separated from the general 49 00:03:32,759 --> 00:03:37,199 inmate population and kep locked in their cells for approximately 50 00:03:37,439 --> 00:03:40,520 twenty three hours a day to ensure their own safety 51 00:03:40,759 --> 00:03:44,479 as well as the safety of the staff and other inmates. 52 00:03:45,199 --> 00:03:48,159 Epstein had been placed in the Shoe on July seven, 53 00:03:48,319 --> 00:03:52,159 twenty nineteen, the day after his arrest, due to the 54 00:03:52,199 --> 00:03:56,000 significant media coverage of his case and awareness of his 55 00:03:56,120 --> 00:04:02,639 notoriety among MCC New York inmates. According to information obtained 56 00:04:02,680 --> 00:04:06,960 by the OIG during the investigation, at approximately eight p m. 57 00:04:07,319 --> 00:04:11,680 On August ninth, all SHOE inmates, including Epstein were locked 58 00:04:11,680 --> 00:04:15,479 in their cell for the evening. Additionally, the six separate 59 00:04:15,520 --> 00:04:19,839 teers or groups of cells within the shoe were also 60 00:04:19,879 --> 00:04:24,959 securely locked. At approximately six thirty a m. On August tenth, 61 00:04:25,079 --> 00:04:29,240 twenty nineteen, shoe staff unlocked the door to the shoe 62 00:04:29,279 --> 00:04:33,079 tier in which Epstein's cell was located in order to 63 00:04:33,160 --> 00:04:36,519 deliver breakfast to inmates through the food slots in the 64 00:04:36,519 --> 00:04:40,120 locked cell doors. When shoe staff entered the tier to 65 00:04:40,240 --> 00:04:43,920 deliver breakfast to Epstein, Shoe staff knocked on the locked 66 00:04:43,959 --> 00:04:47,920 door to Epstein's cell. Epstein, who was housed alone in 67 00:04:47,920 --> 00:04:51,839 his cell, did not respond to shoe staff. Shoe staff 68 00:04:51,920 --> 00:04:54,920 unlocked the cell door and found Epstein hanged in a 69 00:04:55,040 --> 00:04:57,680 cell with one end of a piece of an orange 70 00:04:57,720 --> 00:05:00,879 cloth around his neck and the the other end tied 71 00:05:01,160 --> 00:05:04,560 to the top portion of a bunk bed. In Epstein's cell, 72 00:05:05,319 --> 00:05:08,319 Epstein was suspended from the top bunk in a near 73 00:05:08,399 --> 00:05:12,879 seated position, with his buttocks approximately one inch to one 74 00:05:12,920 --> 00:05:15,480 inch and a half off the floor and his legs 75 00:05:15,560 --> 00:05:18,839 extended straight out on the floor in front of him. 76 00:05:19,279 --> 00:05:23,319 Epstein's cell contained an excess amount of prison linens, as 77 00:05:23,360 --> 00:05:26,680 well as multiple nooses that had been made from torn 78 00:05:27,000 --> 00:05:32,439 prison linens. Shoe staff immediately activated a body alarm, which 79 00:05:32,560 --> 00:05:37,079 notified all mcc new York staff of a medical emergency 80 00:05:37,360 --> 00:05:41,160 and prompted mcc new York staff assigned to the control 81 00:05:41,279 --> 00:05:45,480 center to call nine to one one emergency Services. Shoe 82 00:05:45,480 --> 00:05:49,000 staff then ripped the orange cloth away from the bunk bed, 83 00:05:49,120 --> 00:05:53,000 which caused Epstein's buttocks to drop to the ground. Shoe 84 00:05:53,079 --> 00:05:56,879 staff laid Epstein on the ground and immediately initiated CPR. 85 00:05:57,560 --> 00:06:02,120 At approximately six thirty three am, other mcc new York 86 00:06:02,160 --> 00:06:07,040 employees responded to the shoe. A responding mcc new York 87 00:06:07,079 --> 00:06:11,199 lieutenant took over administering CPR and asked shoe staff to 88 00:06:11,240 --> 00:06:16,399 retrieve an automated external defibrillator and called for the duty nurse. 89 00:06:17,199 --> 00:06:21,279 A clinical nurse responded and continued to perform CPR on 90 00:06:21,399 --> 00:06:25,879 Epstein in place of the lieutenant. At approximately six thirty 91 00:06:25,959 --> 00:06:30,240 nine am, Epstein was placed on a stretcher and moved 92 00:06:30,240 --> 00:06:35,000 by medical staff to the mcc new York Health Service Unit. 93 00:06:36,079 --> 00:06:40,920 The clinical nurse continuously administered CPR until he was relieved 94 00:06:41,079 --> 00:06:45,879 by outside emergency medical technicians when they arrived at the 95 00:06:45,920 --> 00:06:52,279 Health Services area. Minutes later, the EMTs continued CPR, innovated Epstein, 96 00:06:52,600 --> 00:06:57,160 and administered medication and fluids in their efforts to revive them. 97 00:06:57,480 --> 00:07:03,480 At approximately seven ten am, Epstein was transported by EMTs 98 00:07:03,519 --> 00:07:07,600 in an ambulance to New York Presbyterian Lower Manhattan Hospital, 99 00:07:07,959 --> 00:07:11,199 where he was pronounced dead by an emergency room physician 100 00:07:11,600 --> 00:07:16,879 at seven thirty six am on August eleventh, twenty nineteen. 101 00:07:17,000 --> 00:07:20,319 The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, City of New 102 00:07:20,399 --> 00:07:24,360 York performed an autopsy on Epstein and determined that the 103 00:07:24,399 --> 00:07:27,199 cause of death was hanging and the manner of death 104 00:07:27,639 --> 00:07:33,319 was suicide. The OIG conducted this investigation jointly with the 105 00:07:33,399 --> 00:07:39,399 Federal Bureau of Investigation, with the OIG's investigative focus being 106 00:07:39,639 --> 00:07:43,800 the conduct of BOP personnel, among other things. The FBI 107 00:07:44,160 --> 00:07:48,839 investigated the cause of Epstein's death. The FBI determined that 108 00:07:48,879 --> 00:07:52,240 there was no criminality pertaining to al Epstein had died. 109 00:07:52,959 --> 00:07:59,920 This report concerns the OIG's findings regarding mcc new York personnels, custody, care, 110 00:08:00,360 --> 00:08:04,360 and supervision of Epstein during his detention at the facility 111 00:08:04,600 --> 00:08:08,560 from his arrest on July sixth, twenty nineteen, until his 112 00:08:08,639 --> 00:08:13,560 death on August tenth of twenty nineteen. The OIG investigation 113 00:08:13,920 --> 00:08:19,199 and review identified numerous and serious failures by MCC New 114 00:08:19,279 --> 00:08:24,360 York staff, as well as multiple violations of MCC New 115 00:08:24,439 --> 00:08:30,560 York NBOP policies and procedures. Among the most significant was 116 00:08:30,600 --> 00:08:34,559 the failure to assigned Epstein a new cellmate on August ninth, 117 00:08:34,679 --> 00:08:39,399 twenty nineteen, after Epstein's cellmate was transferred out of New York. 118 00:08:39,559 --> 00:08:43,919 MCC that day, Epstein was required to have assellmate at 119 00:08:44,000 --> 00:08:47,559 all times, pursued into a written direction that the MCC 120 00:08:47,759 --> 00:08:52,639 New York Psychology Department issued on July thirtieth, after Epstein 121 00:08:53,000 --> 00:08:57,519 was removed from suicide watch and psychological observation following a 122 00:08:57,639 --> 00:09:02,480 possible attempted suicide biome on July twenty third. As a 123 00:09:02,519 --> 00:09:05,639 result of the failure to assign him a new cell mate, 124 00:09:05,840 --> 00:09:08,759 Epstein was housed a loan in his cell from the 125 00:09:08,879 --> 00:09:11,879 night of August ninth until he was found hanged in 126 00:09:11,960 --> 00:09:15,720 his cell by SHOE staff at approximately six thirty a m. 127 00:09:16,039 --> 00:09:20,799 The following morning. In addition, we determined that SHOE staff 128 00:09:21,039 --> 00:09:25,080 failed to conduct or required inmate counts and rounds, including 129 00:09:25,120 --> 00:09:29,320 overnight on August ninth and tenth, and allowed Epstein to 130 00:09:29,360 --> 00:09:33,559 have an excess of blankets, linens, and clothing in his cell. 131 00:09:34,320 --> 00:09:38,399 These failures compromised Epstein's safety, the safety of other inmates, 132 00:09:38,639 --> 00:09:43,000 and the security of the institution, and provided Epstein with 133 00:09:43,080 --> 00:09:46,360 an opportunity to commit suicide while locked alone in his 134 00:09:46,480 --> 00:09:50,080 cell on the morning of August tenth, without having been 135 00:09:50,159 --> 00:09:55,519 subject to overnight observation or supervision by Shoe staff. The 136 00:09:55,559 --> 00:09:59,799 OIG also found that an mcc new York supervisor had 137 00:10:00,000 --> 00:10:04,440 allout Epstein, in violation of BOP policy, to make an unrecorded, 138 00:10:04,960 --> 00:10:08,840 unmonitored telephone call the evening before his death to an 139 00:10:08,879 --> 00:10:13,919 individual with whom he allegedly had a personal relationship. Further, 140 00:10:14,240 --> 00:10:17,080 two days before his death, during a meeting with his 141 00:10:17,159 --> 00:10:20,200 lawyers in a private room at the mcc new York, 142 00:10:20,559 --> 00:10:24,639 Epstein signed a new last will and testament, which mcc 143 00:10:25,000 --> 00:10:30,200 new York officials did not learn about until after his death. Additionally, 144 00:10:30,600 --> 00:10:34,679 the OIG determined that mcc new York staff assigned to 145 00:10:34,720 --> 00:10:38,360 the Shoe, including the two Shoe staff on duty the 146 00:10:38,519 --> 00:10:42,840 night of August ninth and tenth of twenty nineteen, who 147 00:10:42,879 --> 00:10:46,559 were stationed at a desk that was directly outside the 148 00:10:46,559 --> 00:10:50,320 shoe tier in which Epstein was housed and diagonally across 149 00:10:50,320 --> 00:10:54,519 from Epstein's cell, had falsified BOP records to claim that 150 00:10:54,600 --> 00:10:58,080 they had conducted all of the required counts of inmates 151 00:10:58,320 --> 00:11:01,679 and thirty minute rounds during their shifts within the Shoe, 152 00:11:03,240 --> 00:11:06,960 As described in greater detail in Chapter two. Inmate counts 153 00:11:06,960 --> 00:11:10,200 and thirty minute rounds are the means by which the 154 00:11:10,240 --> 00:11:15,000 BOP accounts for inmates and assesses their safety, security, and 155 00:11:15,480 --> 00:11:20,679 well being. BOP and MCC New York policies require the 156 00:11:20,720 --> 00:11:24,799 staff members count all inmates in each housing unit within 157 00:11:24,879 --> 00:11:31,159 the facility at designated times each day. Additionally, BOP MCC 158 00:11:31,320 --> 00:11:35,159 New York policies require that a staff member observe all 159 00:11:35,200 --> 00:11:39,159 Shoe inmates at least once during the first thirty minutes 160 00:11:39,320 --> 00:11:44,480 of each hour, for example, twelve am to twelve thirty AM, 161 00:11:44,600 --> 00:11:47,639 and again during the second thirty minutes of the hour, eg. 162 00:11:47,840 --> 00:11:51,440 Twelve thirty to one AM, thus ensuring that inmates are 163 00:11:51,480 --> 00:11:56,000 observed at least twice per hour. BOP staff are required 164 00:11:56,240 --> 00:11:59,840 to document inmate counts and thirty minute rounds on a 165 00:12:00,039 --> 00:12:03,639 vifial GOP forms, which are often referred to as count 166 00:12:03,639 --> 00:12:09,679 slips and round sheets. During the OIG's investigation, the OIG 167 00:12:09,840 --> 00:12:14,360 obtained information that the staff assigned to mcc New York 168 00:12:14,440 --> 00:12:18,000 Shoe did not conduct any counts of inmates within the 169 00:12:18,039 --> 00:12:22,919 shoe from August ninth, twenty nineteen, at approximately four pm 170 00:12:23,200 --> 00:12:26,639 until Epstein was found hanged in his cell on the 171 00:12:26,679 --> 00:12:32,840 morning of August tenth, twenty nineteen. However, in documentation completed 172 00:12:32,919 --> 00:12:36,440 by the shoe staff on duty during that period, staff 173 00:12:36,480 --> 00:12:40,360 members falsely certified in the count slips that they had 174 00:12:40,399 --> 00:12:46,039 conducted the required counts. Additionally, the OIG investigation revealed that 175 00:12:46,080 --> 00:12:49,759 the staff assigned to the MCC New York Shoe did 176 00:12:49,799 --> 00:12:53,559 not conduct any required thirty minute rounds of inmates after 177 00:12:53,679 --> 00:13:00,000 approximately ten forty pm on August ninth, twenty nineteen. Again, however, 178 00:13:00,399 --> 00:13:04,320 shoe's staff on duty during that period had falsely certified 179 00:13:04,440 --> 00:13:08,279 in the round sheet that the required rounds were conducted. 180 00:13:09,000 --> 00:13:12,919 The combination of these and other failures led to Epstein 181 00:13:13,080 --> 00:13:16,679 being unmonitored and locked alone in his cell, which the 182 00:13:16,759 --> 00:13:20,960 OIG found contained an excessive amount of bed linens from 183 00:13:21,000 --> 00:13:25,120 approximately ten forty pm on August ninth until he was 184 00:13:25,159 --> 00:13:28,799 discovered hanged in his cell at approximately six point thirty 185 00:13:28,919 --> 00:13:34,240 am the following day. While the OIG determined that mcc 186 00:13:34,519 --> 00:13:39,519 new York staff committed significant violations of BOP and mcc 187 00:13:40,000 --> 00:13:44,480 new York policies and falsified records related to their conducting 188 00:13:44,840 --> 00:13:49,240 inmate counts and rounds, the OIG did not cover any 189 00:13:49,279 --> 00:13:54,159 evidence that contradicted the FBI's determination regarding the absence of 190 00:13:54,200 --> 00:13:59,399 criminality in connection with how Epstein died. All mcc new 191 00:13:59,480 --> 00:14:03,159 York staff members who were interviewed by the OIG said 192 00:14:03,200 --> 00:14:06,720 they did not know of any information suggesting that Epstein's 193 00:14:06,720 --> 00:14:11,240 cause of death was something other than suicide. Additionally, none 194 00:14:11,279 --> 00:14:13,799 of the other fifteen inmates who agreed to be interviewed 195 00:14:14,120 --> 00:14:17,759 in connection with this investigation, ten of whom were housed 196 00:14:17,799 --> 00:14:20,720 in the Shoe on August ninth and tenth, had any 197 00:14:20,759 --> 00:14:25,120 credible information suggesting Epstein's cause of death was something other 198 00:14:25,320 --> 00:14:29,600 than suicide. Further, the Shoe staff and the three interviewed 199 00:14:29,600 --> 00:14:32,360 inmates with a direct line of sight to the door 200 00:14:32,399 --> 00:14:36,080 of Epstein's cell from their cells stated that no one 201 00:14:36,320 --> 00:14:40,480 entered or exited Epstein's cell. After the Shoe staff returned 202 00:14:40,480 --> 00:14:44,000 Epstein to a cell on the evening of August ninth, 203 00:14:44,200 --> 00:14:47,759 which is consistent with the security measures in place within 204 00:14:47,799 --> 00:14:52,159 the MCC New York Shoe. Shoe staff told the OIG 205 00:14:52,600 --> 00:14:56,360 that at approximately eight pm on August ninth, all Shoe 206 00:14:56,360 --> 00:14:59,759 inmates were locked in their cells for the evening and 207 00:15:00,000 --> 00:15:03,240 and that there was no indication that any of the 208 00:15:03,279 --> 00:15:07,080 other inmates could have gotten out of their cells. Additionally, 209 00:15:07,519 --> 00:15:11,559 the OIG analyzed the available recorded video of the shoe, 210 00:15:11,879 --> 00:15:15,320 which was limited to the common area of the shoe, 211 00:15:15,600 --> 00:15:19,279 including the shoe's officer station. Due to the MCC New 212 00:15:19,360 --> 00:15:23,399 York security camera systems recording issues that we detail in 213 00:15:23,399 --> 00:15:27,639 this report. The OIG analysis of the recorded video did 214 00:15:27,720 --> 00:15:33,639 not identify any correctional officer or other individuals approaching any 215 00:15:33,679 --> 00:15:38,440 shoe tier, including the L tier where Epstein was housed, 216 00:15:38,440 --> 00:15:42,159 from the common area of the shoe, between approximately ten 217 00:15:42,279 --> 00:15:46,279 forty pm on August ninth and approximately six thirty am 218 00:15:46,559 --> 00:15:51,120 on August tenth. Finally, the medical examiner who performed the 219 00:15:51,159 --> 00:15:55,440 autopsy detailed for the OIG why Epstein's injuries were more 220 00:15:55,480 --> 00:16:00,519 consistent with and indicative of suicide by hanging rather than 221 00:16:00,639 --> 00:16:05,360 a homicide by strangulation. The medical examiner also cited to 222 00:16:05,399 --> 00:16:09,720 the absence of debris under Epstein's fingernails, marks on his hands, 223 00:16:09,919 --> 00:16:13,759 contusions to his knuckles, or bruises on his body that 224 00:16:13,840 --> 00:16:16,879 evidenced Epstein had been in a struggle, which would be 225 00:16:16,919 --> 00:16:21,320 expected if Epstein's death had been a homicide by strangulation, 226 00:16:22,840 --> 00:16:26,639 As discussed in greater detail in the Conclusions and Recommendations 227 00:16:26,720 --> 00:16:29,840 chapter of this report. This is not the first time 228 00:16:30,080 --> 00:16:34,279 that the OIG has found significant job performance and management 229 00:16:34,279 --> 00:16:38,120 failures on the part of the BOP personnel, and widespread 230 00:16:38,200 --> 00:16:42,360 disregard of BOP policies that are designed to ensure that 231 00:16:42,399 --> 00:16:47,360 inmates are safe, secure, and in good health. The OIG 232 00:16:47,519 --> 00:16:53,000 has investigated numerous allegations related to the falsification of official 233 00:16:53,080 --> 00:16:58,360 BOP documentation concerning inmate counts and rounds, and has repeatedly 234 00:16:58,399 --> 00:17:02,759 found deficiencies with a BOP's staffing levels, the custody and 235 00:17:02,919 --> 00:17:06,400 CARA of inmates at risk for suicide, and security camera 236 00:17:06,519 --> 00:17:12,640 systems at BP institutions. The combination of negligence, misconduct, and 237 00:17:12,680 --> 00:17:17,519 outright job performance failures documented in this report all contributed 238 00:17:17,559 --> 00:17:21,160 to an environment which arguably one of the most notorious 239 00:17:21,160 --> 00:17:25,640 inmates in BOP's custody was provided the opportunity to take 240 00:17:25,680 --> 00:17:30,000 his own life. The BP's failures are troubling not only 241 00:17:30,039 --> 00:17:34,839 because BOP did not adequately safeguard an individual in its custody, 242 00:17:35,039 --> 00:17:38,839 but also because they led to questions about the circumstances 243 00:17:38,880 --> 00:17:44,079 surrounding Epstein's death and effectively deprived Epstein's numerous victims of 244 00:17:44,119 --> 00:17:47,839 the opportunity to seek justice through the criminal justice process. 245 00:17:48,599 --> 00:17:51,880 The fact that these failures have been reoccurring ones at 246 00:17:51,920 --> 00:17:56,079 the GOP does not excuse them and gives additional urgency 247 00:17:56,279 --> 00:17:59,400 to the need for the BOP leadership to address the 248 00:17:59,480 --> 00:18:04,279 chronic price problems plaguing the BOP. Unless otherwise noted, the 249 00:18:04,319 --> 00:18:08,640 OIG applies the preponderance of the evidence standard in determining 250 00:18:08,680 --> 00:18:14,079 whether DOJ personnel have committed misconduct. The US Merit Systems 251 00:18:14,119 --> 00:18:18,400 Protection Board applies this same standard when reviewing a federal 252 00:18:18,440 --> 00:18:23,279 agency's decision to take adverse action against an employee based 253 00:18:23,279 --> 00:18:28,359 on such misconduct. C US Code seven seven zero one 254 00:18:28,799 --> 00:18:33,079 C one B and five CFR Section twelve oh one 255 00:18:33,279 --> 00:18:37,519 dot fifty six B one, Section two. In Chapter two 256 00:18:37,599 --> 00:18:42,680 of this report, we provide background information, including identification and 257 00:18:42,920 --> 00:18:47,720 a description of significant entities and individuals, a summary of 258 00:18:47,759 --> 00:18:53,839 our methodology, and the applicable laws, federal regulations, and BOP policies. 259 00:18:54,480 --> 00:18:58,160 In chapter three, we outline a timeline of key events. 260 00:18:58,559 --> 00:19:02,000 In chapter four, we say forth our findings of fact 261 00:19:02,319 --> 00:19:06,160 relating to the BOP's custody and care of Epstein before 262 00:19:06,200 --> 00:19:10,160 his death. In chapter five, we set forth our findings 263 00:19:10,200 --> 00:19:14,200 of fact related to the events of August eighth through tenth, 264 00:19:14,400 --> 00:19:20,039 twenty nineteen, including Epstein's death. In chapter six, we set 265 00:19:20,079 --> 00:19:23,519 forth our findings of fact related to the BOP's failure 266 00:19:23,799 --> 00:19:26,720 to ensure that there was a functional security camera system 267 00:19:27,079 --> 00:19:31,559 at mcc New York, which resulted in limited recorded video 268 00:19:31,599 --> 00:19:37,160 evidence relevant to Epstein's death. Finally, chapter seven contains our 269 00:19:37,200 --> 00:19:42,160 conclusions and recommendations. All right, folks, So there it is 270 00:19:42,240 --> 00:19:46,759 Chapter one to get things started with the Inspector General's 271 00:19:46,799 --> 00:19:51,960 report into the circumstances surrounding Jeffrey Epstein's death while in custody. 272 00:19:52,920 --> 00:19:55,880 All of the information that goes with the episode can 273 00:19:55,920 --> 00:19:59,640 be found in the description box. What's up every one 274 00:19:59,720 --> 00:20:04,200 and one Welcome back to the Epstein Chronicles. In this episode, 275 00:20:04,400 --> 00:20:08,880 we're going to continue with the Inspector General's Report into 276 00:20:09,359 --> 00:20:13,440 Jeffrey Epstein's death and the circumstances that led up to it. 277 00:20:14,400 --> 00:20:23,640 Chapter two Background, Part one, Significant Entities and Individuals. Jeffrey 278 00:20:23,640 --> 00:20:27,079 Epstein was born in nineteen fifty three, and prior to 279 00:20:27,119 --> 00:20:31,000 his arrest, worked at various jobs in the financial industry 280 00:20:31,240 --> 00:20:36,960 and ultimately developed considerable wealth. On July TEWOD twenty nineteen, 281 00:20:37,319 --> 00:20:39,960 a federal grand jury of the U. S District Court 282 00:20:40,039 --> 00:20:43,599 for the Southern District of New York returned an indictment 283 00:20:43,880 --> 00:20:47,359 that charged Epstein with engaging in sex trafficking and to 284 00:20:47,440 --> 00:20:52,920 sex trafficking conspiracy in violation of eighteen US Code three 285 00:20:53,039 --> 00:20:57,240 seventy one fifteen ninety one a B two and two. 286 00:20:58,200 --> 00:21:01,759 These charges were based on allegations that between two thousand 287 00:21:01,799 --> 00:21:05,440 and two and two thousand and five, Epstein paid girls 288 00:21:05,599 --> 00:21:08,640 as young as fourteen years old hundreds of dollars in 289 00:21:08,720 --> 00:21:12,279 cash each for engaging in sex acts with him at 290 00:21:12,279 --> 00:21:16,640 his Florida and New York residences. The indictment further alleged 291 00:21:16,799 --> 00:21:20,960 that Epstein also paid each of these minor victims hundreds 292 00:21:20,960 --> 00:21:24,559 of dollars in cash to recruit other girls to engage 293 00:21:24,759 --> 00:21:29,640 in sex acts. With Epstein. On July sixth, twenty nineteen. 294 00:21:30,039 --> 00:21:34,200 Epstein was arrested at Teterborough Airport in New Jersey upon 295 00:21:34,200 --> 00:21:37,200 his return to the United States from France and was 296 00:21:37,240 --> 00:21:43,000 transported to the Federal Bureau of Prisons BOP Metropolitan Correctional Center, 297 00:21:43,559 --> 00:21:47,559 located at one fifty Park Row in New York, New York. 298 00:21:48,480 --> 00:21:52,480 Following a detention hearing on July fifteenth, twenty nineteen, the 299 00:21:52,519 --> 00:21:56,559 court ordered that Epstein be detained pending trial based on 300 00:21:56,559 --> 00:21:58,920 the court's finding that he was a danger to the 301 00:21:58,960 --> 00:22:02,720 community and dad the flight risk. MCC New York is 302 00:22:02,759 --> 00:22:07,640 a federal administrative detention facility operated by the BOP that 303 00:22:07,759 --> 00:22:12,119 primarily provides pre trial detention services for the U S 304 00:22:12,160 --> 00:22:16,039 District courts for the Southern and Eastern districts of New York. 305 00:22:16,839 --> 00:22:21,839 The BOP temporarily closed MCC New York in October twenty 306 00:22:21,880 --> 00:22:25,960 twenty one due to substandard conditions that are unrelated to 307 00:22:26,000 --> 00:22:30,640 this investigation. When it was operational, MCC new York housed 308 00:22:30,640 --> 00:22:34,599 approximately seven hundred and fifty inmates at any given time 309 00:22:35,559 --> 00:22:39,079 prior to its closure. The majority of MCC new York's 310 00:22:39,119 --> 00:22:43,640 inmates were individuals with pending criminal charges, as opposed to 311 00:22:43,640 --> 00:22:47,279 individuals who had been convicted of offenses and were serving 312 00:22:47,319 --> 00:22:51,680 a sentence of imprisonment, but whom the court had determined 313 00:22:51,839 --> 00:22:56,160 under applicable law should remain in custody pending trial, either 314 00:22:56,240 --> 00:22:59,960 because they represented danger to the community, a substantial flight ragate, 315 00:23:00,519 --> 00:23:05,079 or both. Mcc new York has several different housing units. 316 00:23:05,720 --> 00:23:11,319 Epstein was initially assigned to mcc new York's general inmate population, 317 00:23:11,759 --> 00:23:15,079 but on July seventh, twenty nineteen, he was moved to 318 00:23:15,119 --> 00:23:19,960 special housing Unit pending reclassification due to the significant increase 319 00:23:20,240 --> 00:23:24,240 in media coverage and awareness of his notoriety among the 320 00:23:24,279 --> 00:23:28,200 other inmates. The Shoe is a housing unit within mcc 321 00:23:28,359 --> 00:23:32,160 New York where inmates are securely separated from the general 322 00:23:32,200 --> 00:23:36,279 inmate population and kept blocked in their cells for approximately 323 00:23:36,640 --> 00:23:40,279 twenty three hours per day to ensure their own safety 324 00:23:40,519 --> 00:23:43,480 as well as the safety of the staff and other inmates. 325 00:23:44,200 --> 00:23:49,119 Correctional Officer Touvin Owell and material handler Michael Thomas began 326 00:23:49,240 --> 00:23:53,240 working together in mcc new York Shoe at twelve a m. 327 00:23:53,559 --> 00:23:57,880 On August tenth, twenty nineteen. During their shift, they each 328 00:23:57,920 --> 00:24:03,920 created and submitted falsified official BOP forms documenting inmate counts 329 00:24:03,920 --> 00:24:07,680 often referred to as count slips, and Noel completed and 330 00:24:07,799 --> 00:24:11,799 signed more than seventy five separate entries on an official 331 00:24:11,839 --> 00:24:17,559 BOP form documenting thirty minute rounds, often referred to as 332 00:24:17,640 --> 00:24:21,119 a round sheet, falsely stating that she and Thomas had 333 00:24:21,160 --> 00:24:25,160 conducted such rounds when in fact they had not. On 334 00:24:25,240 --> 00:24:29,319 November nineteenth, twenty nineteen, a federal grand jury of the U. 335 00:24:29,400 --> 00:24:32,480 S District Court for the Southern District of New York 336 00:24:32,799 --> 00:24:36,440 returned an indictment that charged Noel and Thomas with one 337 00:24:36,480 --> 00:24:40,880 count each of conspiracy and multiple counts each of falsification 338 00:24:41,279 --> 00:24:46,119 of records in violation of eighteen US Code three seventy 339 00:24:46,160 --> 00:24:51,160 one one thousand and one A three and two. The 340 00:24:51,200 --> 00:24:55,359 indictment alleged that on August ninth, twenty nineteen, Noel fell 341 00:24:55,440 --> 00:24:59,519 to conduct the mandatory four PM and ten PM counts 342 00:24:59,519 --> 00:25:03,359 of inmate in the MCC New York Shoe, and that 343 00:25:03,440 --> 00:25:07,119 on August tenth, twenty nineteen, both she and Thomas failed 344 00:25:07,160 --> 00:25:11,000 to conduct the mandatory twelve am, three am and five 345 00:25:11,039 --> 00:25:15,559 am counts and mandatory thirty minute rounds within the MCC 346 00:25:15,839 --> 00:25:20,400 New York Shoe The indictment further alleged that Noel and 347 00:25:20,440 --> 00:25:25,960 Thomas created, certified, and submitted false documentation indicating that the 348 00:25:26,039 --> 00:25:29,400 counts and rounds had been done as required to conceal 349 00:25:29,440 --> 00:25:33,880 their failure to perform their assigned duties. As a result, 350 00:25:33,960 --> 00:25:39,400 it appeared from documentation that prisoners in the Shoe, including Epstein, 351 00:25:39,599 --> 00:25:43,680 were being regularly monitored, when in fact no COO had 352 00:25:43,759 --> 00:25:47,960 checked on Epstein from approximately ten forty pm on August ninth, 353 00:25:47,960 --> 00:25:53,200 twenty nineteen, until approximately six thirty am on August tenth, 354 00:25:53,359 --> 00:25:56,839 twenty nineteen, when Epstein was found hanged in his cell. 355 00:25:58,000 --> 00:26:01,079 On May twenty fifth, twenty twenty one, the US Attorney's 356 00:26:01,079 --> 00:26:04,440 Office for the Southern District of New York entered into 357 00:26:04,480 --> 00:26:10,039 deferred prosecution agreements with Noel and Thomas. Their respective agreements, 358 00:26:10,200 --> 00:26:12,559 which are part of the court record in their case, 359 00:26:13,160 --> 00:26:17,440 includes admissions by Noel and Thomas that they falsely certified 360 00:26:17,640 --> 00:26:22,160 that they had conducted counts and rounds. The agreements also 361 00:26:22,240 --> 00:26:26,920 required them to are truthfully and completely disclose all information 362 00:26:27,039 --> 00:26:31,039 related to their activities and employment with the BOP be 363 00:26:31,160 --> 00:26:34,119 interviewed by the U S Attorney's Office of the Southern 364 00:26:34,119 --> 00:26:38,440 District of New York, the FBI and the OIG complete 365 00:26:38,440 --> 00:26:43,039 one hundred hours of community service, refrain from violating the law, 366 00:26:43,559 --> 00:26:48,200 and fulfill other conditions related to pre trial supervision and 367 00:26:48,319 --> 00:26:53,319 their establishment of good behavior. On December thirteenth, twenty twenty one, 368 00:26:53,640 --> 00:26:57,599 after Noel and Thomas successfully fulfilled the terms of their 369 00:26:57,640 --> 00:27:01,480 deferred prosecution agreements as the tis Hermann by the prosecutors, 370 00:27:01,880 --> 00:27:04,599 the U s District Court for the Southern District of 371 00:27:04,680 --> 00:27:09,160 New York entered a null prosquay order and dismissed all 372 00:27:09,240 --> 00:27:13,559 charges pending against them. Prosecution was declined by the US 373 00:27:13,599 --> 00:27:16,960 Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York for 374 00:27:17,240 --> 00:27:20,960 other BP employees assigned to the shoe who also falsely 375 00:27:21,000 --> 00:27:24,359 certified inmate count slips and round sheets on the day 376 00:27:24,400 --> 00:27:29,279 before and the day of Epstein's death. As discussed in 377 00:27:29,319 --> 00:27:33,079 greater detail in Chapter seven of this report, the OIG 378 00:27:33,240 --> 00:27:37,279 found that, in addition to Noel and Thomas, many other 379 00:27:37,519 --> 00:27:43,240 mcc New York staff members engaged in administrative misconduct, exercised 380 00:27:43,279 --> 00:27:47,799 poor judgment, and or failed to adequately perform their assigned 381 00:27:47,839 --> 00:27:54,240 duties Part two Methodology. During the course of this investigation, 382 00:27:54,599 --> 00:27:58,599 the OIG interviewed fifty four witnesses, several on more than 383 00:27:58,640 --> 00:28:03,839 one occasion. The witnesses interviewed included Noel Thomas and other 384 00:28:04,160 --> 00:28:07,640 mcc new York staff assigned to the Shoe on August 385 00:28:07,720 --> 00:28:12,599 ninth and tenth, twenty nineteen, mcc new York supervisors at 386 00:28:12,599 --> 00:28:16,880 the time of Epstein's death, including the warden, associate wardens, 387 00:28:17,039 --> 00:28:22,799 captain and lieutenants, medical staff, staff members responsible for mcc 388 00:28:22,880 --> 00:28:27,720 new York security camera system, other BOP staff and contractors, 389 00:28:27,799 --> 00:28:32,519 and a relative of Epstein who had requested to provide information. 390 00:28:33,480 --> 00:28:38,680 The BOP employees and contractors were interviewed, including employees involved 391 00:28:38,720 --> 00:28:42,559 in various aspects of the emergency response, who worked at 392 00:28:42,680 --> 00:28:45,559 mcc new York in the days leading up to the 393 00:28:45,640 --> 00:28:50,440 response and following the response, as well as other individuals 394 00:28:50,599 --> 00:28:57,200 with information pertinent to our investigation. Additionally, the OIG participated 395 00:28:57,319 --> 00:29:00,279 in interviews of fifteen inmates who had been had hows 396 00:29:00,319 --> 00:29:04,880 at mcc new York during time periods relevant to our investigation, 397 00:29:05,400 --> 00:29:08,119 including three who were housed in the L tier of 398 00:29:08,160 --> 00:29:12,319 the Shoe on the day Epstein died. Those three El 399 00:29:12,400 --> 00:29:16,279 tier inmates were housed in cells opposite Epstein's cell and 400 00:29:16,319 --> 00:29:19,440 therefore had a direct line of sight to epstein cell. 401 00:29:19,519 --> 00:29:23,039 On the night of August ninth and tenth, the OIG 402 00:29:23,240 --> 00:29:26,519 also reached out to one of Epstein's attorneys to discuss 403 00:29:26,559 --> 00:29:31,559 the possibility of providing information, but ultimately the attorney declined 404 00:29:31,599 --> 00:29:35,599 to be interviewed, citing attorney client privilege. The attorney client 405 00:29:35,640 --> 00:29:39,559 privilege survives a client's death and issues related to ongoing 406 00:29:39,599 --> 00:29:46,240 litigation involving Epstein's estate. The OIG also collected over one 407 00:29:46,319 --> 00:29:49,960 hundred and twenty seven thousand documents, as well as mcc 408 00:29:50,119 --> 00:29:54,839 new York video and photographs. Among these were BOP documents 409 00:29:55,079 --> 00:30:00,119 including staff rosters, daily logs and reports, investigative and and 410 00:30:00,240 --> 00:30:05,640 incident reports, documentation regarding inmate counts and thirty minute rounds, 411 00:30:06,200 --> 00:30:13,039 inmate housing, assignment documentation, inmate transfer documents, psychology department reports, 412 00:30:13,079 --> 00:30:18,599 and medical records relating to Epstein. Epstein's institutional phone call records, 413 00:30:19,200 --> 00:30:23,000 mcc new York records on Epstein's visits with his attorneys, 414 00:30:23,720 --> 00:30:29,440 electronic communications including text messages and emails of BOP employees 415 00:30:29,640 --> 00:30:35,240 and contractors, mcc new York security camera surveillance video records 416 00:30:35,279 --> 00:30:40,359 from contractors regarding the mcc new York Security Camera System, 417 00:30:40,880 --> 00:30:46,119 Service records for mcc new York Security Camera System, mcc 418 00:30:46,240 --> 00:30:50,640 new York photographs, including photographs taken of efforts to revive 419 00:30:50,680 --> 00:30:55,359 Epstein on the morning of August tenth, twenty nineteen, BOP 420 00:30:55,519 --> 00:31:00,279 policies and program statements, mcc new York post orders, and 421 00:31:00,440 --> 00:31:06,039 financial records. The OIG also conducted forensic analysis of the 422 00:31:06,079 --> 00:31:12,160 computers located in the shoe and BOP cellular telephones. In addition, 423 00:31:12,400 --> 00:31:17,680 the OIG reviewed FBI investigative records, including reviewer reports FD 424 00:31:17,920 --> 00:31:22,319 DASH three two, notes from witness interviews and other meetings, 425 00:31:22,599 --> 00:31:28,400 and electronic communications. The OIG also reviewed Epstein's autopsy report 426 00:31:28,680 --> 00:31:33,839 and interviewed the medical examiner who performed the autopsy on Epstein. 427 00:31:34,440 --> 00:31:36,680 All right, folks, so we're going to wrap up part 428 00:31:36,759 --> 00:31:40,079 one of chapter two right here, and then the next 429 00:31:40,160 --> 00:31:44,079 episode where we're talking about this OIG report, we're going 430 00:31:44,119 --> 00:31:47,799 to pick up with Part three, which is applicable law, 431 00:31:48,079 --> 00:31:53,160 regulations and BOP policies. All of the information that goes 432 00:31:53,200 --> 00:31:56,480 with this episode can be found in the description box.