Key Takeaways
- A handwritten note purportedly authored by Jeffrey Epstein was unsealed by Judge Kenneth M. Karas after a New York Times request.
- The note, found by Epstein’s former cellmate Nicholas Tartaglione, contains phrases Epstein used in other communications, such as “bust out cryin” and “No fun.”
- Although the Justice Department released millions of Epstein‑related documents, this note was not among them; the department said it had never seen the file.
- Tartaglione’s lawyers authenticated the note, but the method of authentication was not disclosed in the court chronology.
- The note became part of a sealed legal dispute over attorney‑client privilege before the judge decided public interest outweighed privacy concerns.
- Epstein’s death was ruled a suicide by the New York City medical examiner, yet security lapses at the Metropolitan Correctional Center have fueled persistent murder theories.
- Tartaglione, now serving four life sentences for a quadruple‑murder conviction, maintains his innocence and has appealed; he said he gave the note to his counsel to counter any claim that Epstein accused him of an attack.
Discovery of the Note
In July 2019, after Jeffrey Epstein was found unresponsive with a strip of cloth around his neck, his cellmate Nicholas Tartaglione discovered a piece of yellow legal‑pad paper tucked inside a graphic novel. Epstein had survived that incident but died weeks later in the Metropolitan Correctional Center. Tartaglione recalled opening the book to read and seeing the note, which he later described to reporters as a spontaneous find rather than something he had been looking for.
Content of the Alleged Suicide Note
The note begins with an exasperated declaration: “They investigated me for month — FOUND NOTHING!!!” followed by a reference to charges dating back many years. It continues with a somewhat sardonic tone: “It is a treat to be able to choose one’s time to say goodbye,” then shifts to a mocking query, “Watcha want me to do — Bust out cryin!!” The final lines read, “NO FAM” (underlined) and “NOT WORTHIT!!” The phrasing mirrors language Epstein used in emails and in another note recovered from his cell after his death, lending a superficial air of authenticity.
Legal Path to Public Release
Tartaglione’s attorneys turned over the original note to the court in May 2021, nearly two years after Epstein’s death, according to a letter made public by the judge. The document had been placed under a court seal amid a dispute concerning attorney‑client privilege. When The New York Times petitioned for unsealing, Judge Kenneth M. Karas solicited input from the parties. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York noted it did not oppose release, citing Tartaglione’s prior voluntary statements about the note and emphasizing the strong public interest in understanding Epstein’s demise.
Judge Karas’s Decision
Judge Karas ultimately granted the Times’s request, concluding that the seal was primarily for Tartaglione’s benefit and that the public’s right to know about the circumstances surrounding Epstein’s death outweighed privacy concerns. His order released the note onto the federal docket on a Wednesday evening, making it accessible to journalists, researchers, and the general public. The judge did not comment on the note’s veracity, focusing instead on the procedural aspects of sealing and unsealing.
Authentication and Government Records
Despite the Justice Department’s release of millions of pages of Epstein‑related material under a new transparency law, the note was absent from those files. A department spokeswoman confirmed that the agency had never seen the document. A two‑page chronology included in the court record explained how the note became entangled in Tartaglione’s case but did not detail the authentication process employed by his lawyers. The Times has not independently verified the note’s authenticity, noting only the stylistic similarities to Epstein’s known writings.
Tartaglione’s Role and Statements
Nicholas Tartaglione, a former Briarcliff Manor police officer, was sharing a cell with Epstein while awaiting trial on a quadruple‑murder charge. He told the Times that after Epstein’s July 2019 incident, Epstein initially claimed Tartaglione had attacked him and denied being suicidal. Tartaglione has consistently denied any assault, and Epstein later told jail officials he “never had any issues” with his cellmate. Tartaglione said he handed the note to his lawyers to safeguard against any future accusation that Epstein blamed him for the self‑harm attempt.
Outcome of Tartaglione’s Case
In 2023, Tartaglione was convicted on multiple counts related to the quadruple murder and sentenced to four life terms. He maintains his innocence and has appealed the conviction. While incarcerated in a California prison, he continues to assert that the note was genuine and that it reflects Epstein’s state of mind during his incarceration. His legal team has not objected to the note’s release, viewing it as a matter of public record rather than a privileged communication.
Broader Context: Epstein’s Death and Conspiracy Theories
The New York City medical examiner ruled Epstein’s death a suicide, yet numerous irregularities—such as malfunctioning cameras, inadequate staffing, and procedural lapses—have fueled speculation that he may have been murdered. The release of the note adds another layer to the ongoing debate, though its ambiguous provenance means it neither confirms nor refutes the suicide ruling. Scholars, journalists, and the public continue to scrutinize the circumstances, seeking clarity on one of the most high‑profile deaths in recent American history.