Speaker 1: Every one, and welcome back to the Epstein Chronicles. In
this episode, we're going to pick up where we left
off in chapter four of the OIG Report, detailing the
circumstances that led up to the death of Jeffrey Epstein.
So let's dive right back in. Also on July twenty three,
twenty nineteen, the staff psychologists conducted a suicide risk assessment
that included a clinical interview of Epstein and a review
of Epstein's medical record, the Psychology Data System, and a
review of the Century database. According to the staff psychologist's report,
Epstein denied knowing why you was placed on suicide watch.
BOP record state that Epstein recalled getting a drink of
water the night prior to then went back to bed.
Epstein's next recollection was hearing himself snoring. The BOP assessment
records reflect that Epstein wanted to know why you was
on suicide watch and why he was informed that he
had been found with a string on his neck. The
staff psychologist noted that it was unclear whether Epstein had
placed the string around his neck or if someone else did.
Epstein denied current suicidal or self harmed thoughts, or ever
having these thoughts, denied a history of self harm and
suicide attempts, and denied feeling hopeless and fearing for his safety.
Epstein told the staff psychologists that he lived to enjoy
life and that his future plans included fighting his criminal
case and getting back to his normal life. The staff
psychologist noted that Epstein was to remain on suicide watch
for further observation. The staff psychologists told the OIG she
had advised BOP staff that Epstein would need a cell mate.
The chief psychologist said she considered three possibilities to explain
the July twenty third incident. One Epstein and or inmate
one were gaming the system to get something they want
wanted that they were not getting. Two Epstein, who really
was suicidal, had conducted a rehearsal. Or three Inmate one
had assault at Epstein. The chief psychologist told the OIG
that after Epstein told her he wanted to be housed
with the same cell mate he originally set assaulted him,
she began to think the third possibility, assault by in
May one, was less plausible than the other two possibilities,
although she did not know for certain. The following day,
July twenty fourth medical staff examined Epstein at approximately one
o eight pm and observed that the central part of
the red mark on Epstein's neck had some abrasion. Epstein
told the medical staff that he still did not want
to talk about how he sustained the injuries, but he
believed that his cell mate had something to do with it.
BOP's SIS opened an investigation into the incident, but was
unable to determine whether Epstein had harmed himself or had
been assaulted. On July twenty fourth, twenty nineteen, after thirty
one hours and five minutes, Epstein was removed from suicide watch.
Epstein remained in the same cell he was in under
suicide watch and was under psychological observation until July thirtieth,
twenty nineteen. Also on July twenty fourth, twenty nineteen, Forensic
Psychologists IO completed a post suicide watch report. According to
Forensic Psychologists two's report, Epstein continued to claim a lack
of memory regarding how he sustained the scar around his neck.
The Boper report further stated that Epstein adamantly denied suicidal ideation,
intensions and plans. That Epstein identified reasons to live and
was future oriented, and that Epstein was assessed for a
willingness to engage in treatment. The BOPER report reflected that
forensic psychologists IO inquired further if Epstein would recall the
previous day's incident, and Epstein stated that he had been
trying to remember. Forensic psychologists too asked Epstein why he
told another inmate that Epstein's cellmate had tried to kill him,
but was now claiming he has no memory of the incident.
Epstein told the forensic psychologists too that he did not
recall himself or his cellmate tying a string of rope
around his neck. Following forensic Psychologists two's examination of Epstein,
she determined that he should be removed from suicide Watch.
Forensic Psychologists Too told the FBI that she discussed the
decision to step Epstein down to psychological observation from suicide
Watch with the chief psychologist and Associate Warden two, who
both concurred with her determination. Epstein was therefore taken off
suicide Watch and placed on psychological observation, during which time
BOP records reflect that he was continuously observed by inmate
companions and seen daily by psychology department staff. Forensic psychologists
too annotated in the post suicide watch report that the
reason for removing Epstein from suicide Watch was due to
Epstein's stating he had no interest in killing himself. He
had described having a wonderful life, and Epstein had said
it would be crazy to take his own life and
he would not do that to himself. Forensic psychologists too
told the FBI that, following her clinical visit with Epstein
on July twenty fourth, twenty nineteen, she was cautious with
Epstein's case and his self reporting of what had occurred
the previous day. Forensic psychologists too stated that she observed
signs of positivity and Epstein adamantly denied suicide. Nevertheless, she
was not comfortable taking Epstein off suicide Watch and instead
opted to place Epstein on psychological Observation, which was a
step down from suicide Watch. Forensic psychologists too told the
FBI that I made the decision with the consent of
the chief psychologist and Associate Warden iiO, with whom she
had consulted. Forensic psychologists too told the FBI that placing
Epstein on psychological observation allowed him to possess hygiene products,
two novels, attend legal visits, and take showers. It also
allowed him to have standard inmate clothing, a FlexPen, a
toothbrush and toothpaste, soap, and deodorant. However, Forensic Psychologists Too
explained that it was not healthy for inmates to stay
on suicide watch for extended periods of time, and they
are reevaluated on a day to day basis. According to
Forensic Psychologists two's post suicide watch report, Epstein expressed a
feeling of safety being housed in the psychological observation area
rather than the shoe and asked if there was a
safer unit for him to be housed. Forensic Psychologists Too
informed Epstein that he would remain on psychological observation for
the near future, but his long term housing would need
to be revisited because it is not ideal to remain
in psychological observation for extended periods of time. The BOP
report states that Epstein was again educated on routine and
emergency procedures for contacting psychology Department staff. According to BOP records,
between July twenty fifth and July twenty ninth of twenty nineteen,
Epstein was seen daily by the chief Psychologist or the
staff psychologist while he was on psychological observation. On each
of these dates, according to BOP reports, Epstein adamantly denied
being suicidal and denied having any memory of what occurred
on July twenty third, twenty nineteen, which resulted in him
being placed on suicide watch. Additionally, on each date, Epstein
was provided with supportive end coping skills interventions to which
he was receptive. BOP record state that Epstein expressed concerns
about being housed again in the Shoe because he felt
it was dangerous, he cannot sleep well due to the
noise from other inmates, and it was difficult for him
to work on his legal case. The chief psychologists told
the FBI and the OIG that she met with Epstein
on July twenty fifth, twenty nineteen, and he was in
good spirits. She said that during his clinical visit, Epstein
said he was baffled over the July twenty third, twenty
nineteen incident and asked the chief psychologists to give him
some cues to help him remember. The chief psychologist told
the OIG that she kept Epstein on psychological observation because
he had not answered her questions regarding the possible suicide attempt.
The chief psychologists told the OIG that she coordinated with
the BOP's National suicide Prevention Coordinator, who recommended that Epstein
be housed with the sex offender in the shoe. The
chief psychologist notified Associate Warden iiO of this recoond via email.
BOPU records further reflect that during his clinical visit on
July twenty eighth, twenty nineteen, Epstein told the staff psychologist
that he was agitated for hours the previous night because
of a NonStop toilet flushing and that the noise was
similar to when he was housed in the Shoe. The
staff psychologist informed Epstein that he would be moving to
a different cell on July twenty ninth, twenty nineteen. According
to BOPU records, Epstein reported the chief psychologist that his
memory of the July twenty third, twenty nineteen incident may
be impaired because of his sleep apnea. On this date,
Epstein was to receive his personally owned medical device. BOPR
records state that Epstein was aware he would be returning
to the shoe, but reported that he did not feel
well due to lack of sleep and other medical concerns.
Epstein asked to stay on psychological observation where he felt
safe for one more night to get some sleep, and
then return to the shoe with the cellmate the following day.
According to BPU records, the chief psychologist informed Epstein that
he could stay one more night and explain that there
were no mental health issues precluding him from returning to
the shoe. The following day, the chief psychologists explained to
Epstein that he would be placed in a safe situation
in the shoe. Epstein was again provided supportive interventions and
psycho education regarding additional coping strategies. BOPU records state that
Epstein was somewhat receptive, but more concerned with getting phone calls,
recreation and housing placement concerns. On July thirtieth, twenty nineteen,
according to BPU records, Epstein reported to the staff psychologist
that he had not slept well, and Epstein discussed how
he did not think he would be able to sleep
well in the shoe because of the noise. The staff
psychologist annotated in the clinical contact summary that documentation revealed
Epstein had eaten and taken a shower of the day
prior July twenty ninth, and had also eaten breakfast on
July thirtieth. The staff psychologist annotated Epstein did not display
indications of a disturbed thought process or content and denied
current suicidal or self harm ideation. BOP records further stated
that Epstein agreed to immediately report the staff if he
began to have suicidal or self harmed thoughts, and that
Epstein was future oriented and did not appear to be
a danger to himself. The staff psychologist noted in her
clinical contact report that she had consulted with the chief
psychologist and that the psychological observation of Epstein would be discontinued.
According to her clinical contact report, the staff psychologists educated
Epstein about routine and emergency procedures for contacting Psychology Department State,
and noted that Epstein would be seen the following day
to monitor his mental health and provide further intervention if needed.
The staff psychologists also noted in her report that the
Shoe Lieutenant was informed that Epstein needed to be housed
with an appropriate cell mate. Also on July thirtieth, twenty nineteen,
staff psychologists completed an evaluation of competency related to Epstein
being able to proceed with a disciplinary process. Epstein had
been charged by BOP with a prohibited act, specifically tattooing
or self mutilation, for the incident that occurred on July
twenty three, twenty nineteen. In conducting the evaluation of competency,
the staff psychologists reviewed the suicide risk assessment completed by
the chief psychologist on July ninth, twenty nineteen, in which
Epstein had denied a history of mental health treatment and
having any past or present suicidal ideation, intention, or The
staff psychologists also reviewed the suicide risk assessment that she
herself completed dated July twenty three, twenty nineteen, which stated
that it was unclear at the time if Epstein had
placed the string around his neck or if it was
done by someone else. According to the staff psychologist's notes
from her competency evaluation on July thirtieth, the determination of
an inmates competency to proceed with the disciplinary process was
based on a clinical assessment of the inmates ability to
understand the nature of the proceedings and his or her
ability to assist in his or her own defense. After
a review of available psychological and psychiatric records and information
related to the offense, the staff psychologists found that Epstein
was competent to proceed with the disciplinary process. That same day,
July thirtieth, Epstein was removed from psychological observation and transferred
back to the shoe, consistent with what he had been
told by the chief psychologist that prior day. On July
thirty first, twenty nineteen, according to BP records, Forensic Psychologists
three conducted a clinical visit with Epstein and noted that
he was in a pleasant mood, generally slept well, and
was getting readjusted to being in the shoe. Epstein told
Forensic Psychologists three that he was getting along with the cellmate.
According to her report, Epstein explicitly denied recent and current
suicidal ideation or intent and denied having thoughts of harming others.
Epstein also agreed to contact staff immediately if he experienced
any suicidal thoughts or psychological distress. Forensic Psychologists three's report
further stated that Epstein was receptive to her utilization of
cognitive behavioral therapeutic techniques. She wrote that there did not
appear to be a need for follow up at the time,
and Epstein expressed a willingness to self refer to a
psychology department staff if needed. According to the report, Epstein
would continue to be seen during routine shoe rounds and
shoe reviews. On August first, twenty nineteen, according to BP records,
BOP receiving and discharge staff, who were responsible for processing
inmates who enter or leave the facility, notified the staff
psychologist that the previous day, when the US Martiall Service
had brought Epstein back to the mcc New York from court,
they had provided a form on which it was noted
that Epstein had suicidal tendencies. The OIG reviewed the USMS
Prisoner Schedule Report for July thirty one, twenty nineteen, as
well as the USMS Prisoner Custody Alert, noticed that had
annotated in the remarks that Epstein had mental concerns suicidal tendencies.
The chief psychologists told the OIG that the USM annotate
suicidal tendencies for many inmates if the USMS was aware
the inmate was previously on suicide watch. Therefore, the chief
psychologist said the annotation was not abnormal since Epstein had
just come off suicide watch, and Epstein may have told
the USMS that he had been on suicide watch. Following
the receipt of this information from the receiving and discharged staff,
the staff psychologists conducted as suicide risk assessment on August
first that included a review of Epstein's previous clinical encounters,
medical records, and data in the psychology department and century systems.
According to the staff psychologist's assessment, Epstein denied stating he
was suicidal and was surprised that the form noted that
he had suicidal tendencies. The staff psychologists said that Epstein
told her that the incident report he received for the
marks on his neck arising from the July twenty third
event had been expunged. The OIG confirmed that the incident
report was expunged. Epstein also said his cellmate talked at
night and kept Epstein awake, but that Epstein wanted to
give it three or four more days before determining if
he wanted another cell mate. The state psychologists concluded in
a report that Epstein did not appear to be a
danger to himself and denied current suicidal or self harm
ideation and agreed to immediately inform staff if he had
any of these thoughts. Epstein told her that he had
social supports in the community and that he had reasons
to live and a positive future plan. The staff psychologist
noted that Epstein was currently psychologically stable and that suicide
watch was not indicated at the time. The staff psychologists
concluded that Epstein's overall acute suicide risk was low and
the overall chronic suicide risk was absent. Epstein was again
provided supportive and educative interventions and educated about routine and
emergency procedures for contacting psychology department staff. The staff psychologist's
report noted that Epstein would continue to be seen during
routine shoe rounds and shoe reviews, and that he would
be seen by psychology Department staff the following week to
monitor his mental health status and provide further intervention if needed.
On August eighth of twenty nineteen, the chief psychologists conducted
a clinical follow up session with Epstein. According to a report,
Epstein described as sleep as fair and requested that he
be placed in general population. The report further stated that
Epstein denied feelings of depression, anxiety, and any suicidal ideation, intention,
or plan. Epstein told the chief psychologist that he received
the necessary documentation to make phone calls and asked if
his previous phone calls over the speaker phone counted as
is monthly phone contact. The chief psychologists stated in her
report that Epstein had no mental health concerns and did
not appear to be in any distress. The chief psychologist
wrote that shoe staff had not reported any unusual behaviors
related to Epstein. She provided Epstein with supportive interventions and
psycho education regarding additional coping strategies, to which Epstein was receptive.
Epstein was educated on routine and emergency procedures for contacting
psychology department staff, and also reminded of self help books
and audio tapes that are available to them. The chief
psychologists wrote that Epstein would be seen in weekly shoe
rounds and monthly for shoe reviews. The chief psychologists told
the OIG that the fact that Epstein underwent three suicide
risk assessments was unusual. All right, So that concludes chapter four.
In the next episode, we're going to start exploring five.
The events of August eight through tenth, twenty nineteen, and
Epstein's death. All of the information that goes with this
episode can be found in the description box twels What's
up everyone, and welcome back to the Epstein Chronicles. In
this episode, we're gonna pick back up with the OIG Report,
discussing the circumstances that led to the death of Jeffrey Epstein.
In our last episode, we wrapped up chapter four, so
now we're diving into chapter five, and just like chapter four,
we're going to break it down into several parts, all right,
So let's get to it. Chapter five. The events of
August eighth through the tenth, twenty nineteen, and Epstein's death.
Part one. Epstein signs a new last will and testament
on August eighth. In the weeks following Epstein's death, multiple
media outlets reported that Epstein signed a new last will
and testament on August eighth of twenty nineteen. At least
one media organization published a copy of the notarized document,
showing that it was signed by Epstein and two of
his attorneys and notarized on August eighth, twenty nineteen. Attorney
visitor logs from the Metropolitan Correctional Center in New York,
New York confirmed that those attorneys and the notary public
visited Epstein on that date. The Office of the Inspector
General OIG confirmed via court records that the August eighth,
twenty nineteen will and other probate related documents were filed
in the Superior Court of the Virgin Islands on August fifteenth,
twenty nineteen. Among those court filings was an affid David
from another attorney who stated that she received the August eighth,
twenty nineteen will from Epstein. The OIG confirmed via attorney
visitor logs that this attorneyer also visited Epstein at the
MCC New York on August eighth of twenty nineteen. The
OIG's investigation and review revealed that mcc new York personnel
were unaware that Epstein had changed his will two days
before he died. The chief psychologist said she had heard
that Epstein had changed his will from the media reporting
following his death. The chief psychologist did not know if
the media reporting was accurate, but she thought that if
it was true, it would have been useful information to
know because it would have been a red flag. The
staff psychologist and the chief psychologist told the OIG that
if Epstein's attorneys had notified them or the psychology Department
that Epstein had changed his will, such information would have
been a factor warranting a review of Epstein's mental state,
and Epstein probably would have been placed back on suicide
watch or some type of observation. Part two court order
on August ninth, releasing Epstein related documents and pending civil litigation.
On August ninth, twenty nineteen, the US Court of Appeals
for the Second Circuit Court ordered the unsealing of the
summary judgment filings from a defamation lawsuit filed by Virginia Roberts,
a woman who alleged that Epstein had victimized her when
she was a teenager against Glenn Maxwell. As a result
of the court's order that same day, approximately two thousand
pages of documents were released into the public domain, which
contained considerable derogatory information about Epstein, and some may have
related to the criminal charges pending against them. Additional high
profile public figures were also named in the release documents.
There was significant media coverage of information contained within the
unsealed court filings. Part three Transfer of Eppsie Dean's cellmate.
On August ninth to another institution and failure to replace
them with another inmate part a notice on August eighth,
the impending transfer of Epstein's cellmate on August ninth, as
noted above, since July thirtieth, consistent with the Psychology Department's
determination that Epstein needed to have a cell mate, Epstein
had been housed with inmate number three, whom the warden
and the Federal Bureau of Prisons Executive leadership had selected
as an appropriate cell mate. At ten thirty am on
August eighth, twenty nineteen, the US Marshall Service sent an
email to mcc New York personnel assigned to receiving and
discharge the area within the Correctional Services Department that is
responsible for processing inmates who enter or leave the facility,
with the subject transfer of prisoners from NYM MCC new
York to GEO. The body of the email identified in
May three as one of the prisoners to be transferred,
and further stated, please schedule the transfer for Friday, eight nine,
nineteen at three thirty six pm. On the same day,
the USMS sent a second email to a number of
mcc New York personnel, including Associate Warden number two, the Captain,
the Shoe Lieutenant, the day Watch Operations Lieutenant, the day
Watch Activities Lieutenant, the Evening Watch Operations Lieutenant, another lieutenant,
and the Special Investigative Services Lieutenant with the subject Prisoner
Production eight nine, twenty nineteen. This email contained two attachments,
one of which was the Prisoner Scheduled Report for MCC
new York for August ninth, twenty nineteen. The first page
of this attachment reflects that inmate number three was scheduled
to be transferred from MCC new York to GOO Queen's
Detention facility on August ninth, twenty nineteen. This attachment also
includes the acronym WAB within the destination description portion of
the document, which mcc new York personnel told the OIG
means with all belongings. During their OIG interviews, MCC new
York staff members further explained that the WAB rotation meant
that in May three was being permanently removed from mcc
new York on August ninth, twenty nineteen. Notwithstanding this email,
as detailed below, several of the email recipients identified above,
including the Captain, the day Watch Operations Lieutenant, and the
day Watch Activities lieutenant told the OIG that they believed
in May three had gone to court on August ninth,
and they did not know he'd been transferred to another facility.
Part b MCC New York staff rejected Epstein's attorney request
that Epstein be housed without a cellmate. Forensic psychologist Won
told the OIG that on August ninth, twenty nineteen, she
was present during a meeting in which one of Epstein's
attorneys opposed Epstein having a cell mate. Forensic Psychologist one
explained to the attorney that because Epstein was housed in
the shoe and he was a sex offender, he needed
to have a cell mate. Additionally, the OIG investigation revealed
that on the day of Epstein's death, a supervisory staff
attorney with the BOP's Consolidated Legal Center for New York
sent an email to the warden to inform him that
on the previous day, August ninth, twenty nineteen, two of
Epstein's attorneys separately contacted him. One of the attorneys asked
for Epstein to be moved to a different specific housing
unit within MCC New York. The other attorney asked for
Epstein to be housed without a cell mate in the shoe.
The supervisory staff attorney said he informed the first attorney
that the suggested housing unit was not available for pretrial
detainees such as Epstein, and he said he told the
second attorney that Epstein could not be housed without a
cell mate because of his prior suicide attempt. Part C
removal on August ninth of Epstein's cellmate from MCC New York.
According to mcc new York reports including the Daily Log
and the Lieutenant's Log, on August nine, twenty nineteen, at
approximately eight thirty eight, a m Epstein's cellmate in May
three was pre removed and transferred out of MCC New
York in a routine pre arranged transfer. The Daily Log
tracks inmate movements throughout the MCC New York each day,
while MCC new York lieutenants utilized the Lieutenant's Log to
document the daily activities that took place within the institution
during their respective shifts. The Supervisory Correctional System Specialist was
the supervisor of Receiving and Discharge on August ninth, twenty nineteen,
and was responsible for overseeing all inmate movements in and
out of the institution that day. The Supervisory Correctional System
specialist verified that Receiving and Discharge would have used the
USMS emails sent on August eighth, twenty nineteen, to coordinate
in May three's transfer out of mcc New York, and
since in May three was listed as wab on the
USMS emails, that meant he was being transferred from the
facility and not coming back. She explained to the OIG
that if in May three had been going to court,
as many pre trial inmates held at mcc New York
often did, the daily log would have reflected court rather
than pre remove. Since the daily log listed in May
three as pre remove, the Receiving and Discharge personnel who
entered the information into the report were made aware that
in May three was being transferred from mcc New York
honor before the morning of August ninth, twenty nineteen, i'd
ce website for details. The Supervisory Correctional System specialist told
the OIG that the language in the USMS email Wabie
with all belongings and the MCC New York reports pre
removed made it clear that in May three would not
be returning to the Shoe or MCC New York. The
OIG also interviewed the Correctional Systems officer, who was the
receiving and discharge officer who handled inmate movements in and
out of MCC New York on August ninth, twenty nineteen.
The Correctional Systems officer confirmed that the daily log reflected
that in May three was pre removed on August ninth,
twenty nineteen, at eight thirty eight am because he was
being officially moved from the institution to an other prison.
She explained to the OIG that the ordinary process was
that receiving in discharge personnel would enter the information regarding
Inmate three into century along with information pertaining to other
inmates who would be leaving their MCC New York housing units.
Receiving in discharge use this information to create the daily
call out list, which had all the inmates' names and
times that they were being moved. The Correctional Systems officer
told the OIG that the call out list from August ninth,
twenty nineteen was no longer available because the call out
lists were printed and hand delivered to the housing units
each day and then discarded by the units at the
end of the day. She also said each day's call
out list was only maintained electronically for a twenty four
hour period and then it was updated overwritten with the
next day's list. In our OIG interview, the correctional Systems
officer explained what would have occurred on this date based
on her experience. Receiving and discharge personnel would have printed
copies of the call out list for August ninth, twenty nineteen,
which mcc New York Internal Officer would distribute to the
various housing units within the facility. Based on the other
records reflecting in May Three's transfer, the correctional systems officer
said the call out list created for August ninth, twenty
nineteen would have listed wab next to in May Three's name,
which meant that he was departing from the institution and
not returning. Correctional Officer Number one told the OIG that
on the morning of August ninth, twenty nineteen, he and
daywatch Shoe Officer in charge escorted in May three to
receiving and discharge and Epstein to his legal visit. All right, folks,
we're going to wrap up there and then in the
next episode, we're going to pick up with Part D
of Chapter five. All of the information that goes with
the episode can be found in the description box.