Federal Judge Unseals Purported Epstein Suicide Note From July 2019
A federal judge in New York unsealed a purported handwritten suicide note attributed to Jeffrey Epstein on Wednesday, May seventh, two thousand twenty-six. The note, which has never been authenticated, was discovered by Epstein's former cellmate, Nicholas Tartaglione, after Epstein's first suspected suicide attempt in July two thousand nineteen. The cellmate kept the document sealed for nearly seven years as part of an unrelated legal case. The New York Times requested the document's release, and the Justice Department did not oppose the unsealing, citing strong public interest in understanding the circumstances surrounding Epstein's death. The one-page note contains five sentences, including phrases like "It is a treat to be able to choose one's time to say goodbye" and "They investigated me for months – found nothing." Additional documents remain sealed pending redaction review. The note's authenticity has not been verified by independent experts.
Key facts
- Judge Kenneth Karas unsealed the note on Wednesday, May 7, 2026, after a New York Times request
- The note was discovered by Nicholas Tartaglione, Epstein's former cellmate, after a July 23, 2019 suspected suicide attempt
- Epstein died by suicide on August 10, 2019, while awaiting trial on federal sex trafficking charges
- The document has never been authenticated by handwriting experts or forensic analysis
- The Justice Department released over 3 million pages of Epstein-related documents beginning January 30, 2026
- Additional three court documents remain sealed, pending redaction proposals due within one week
How different outlets framed it
Left-leaning coverage: Progressive outlets focus on transparency and public accountability in the release of Epstein documents. They emphasize ongoing congressional investigations, including subpoenas issued to former President Bill Clinton and others, as evidence of persistent gaps in public knowledge about Epstein's network and potential accomplices.
Right-leaning coverage: Right-leaning outlets, including Fox News, frame the release as part of broader transparency efforts and focus on the Justice Department's role in document management. Some emphasize connections to political figures and note the wider Epstein files release as expanding public knowledge, while questioning completeness of government disclosures.
Limits of this briefing
The note has not been independently verified for authenticity by any news organization or expert. The existence of a separate cellmate account and delayed disclosure means the document's chain of custody and preservation are matters of ongoing debate, and its meaning for understanding Epstein's state of mind remains ambiguous.
Sources
- NPR: A judge unsealed Epstein's purported 2019 suicide note. More documents could follow Centre
- CNN: Judge releases purported Jeffrey Epstein suicide note Centre
- Fox News: Jeffrey Epstein's alleged suicide note to cellmate Tartaglione unsealed by judge Right
- Al Jazeera: US judge releases purported Jeffrey Epstein suicide note Centre
- Associated Press / PBS: Judge releases note that cellmate says he found after Epstein's suspected suicide attempt Centre