The US Department of Justice confirmed that the 66-year-old was found dead in his New York prison cell. Investigations already initiated by the Federal Police (FBI) should provide information about the background. According to the Metropolitan Correctional Center, Epstein was found around 6:30 a.m. (12:30 p.m. CEST) by prison staff and taken to a hospital. There Epstein was finally pronounced dead. The public prosecutor’s office also accused Epstein of sex trafficking and sex trafficking conspiracies; between 2002 and 2005 he is said to have sexually abused dozens of girls, some of them underage, and incited them to prostitution.
It was only at the end of July that US media reported that Epstein had been found injured in his prison cell. Guardians had found him with bruises on his neck on the floor. There was no evidence of injuries at the hearing, but investigators thought a suicide attempt was possible.
Editor’s note
ORF.at deliberately designs its reporting on suicides in a cautious manner and, where possible, omits details. If you feel suicidal yourself, please contact the immediately Telephone counseling under the free number 142.
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The New York prison in which Epstein sat is considered to be one of the safest in the United States. Notorious Mexican drug lord Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman spent two years there before being transferred to a maximum security prison in Colorado last month.
The process would have started in June 2020 at the earliest
Epstein was arrested in mid-July. After his arrest, a Manhattan judge ruled that Epstein must remain in jail until his trial begins because he was “a danger to others and the community.” The prosecutor had previously argued that the risk of escape was very high. Epstein’s defense, on the other hand, had demanded that the entrepreneur be placed under house arrest for a high bail in the tens of millions in his property near Central Park in Manhattan.
The trial against Epstein would have started in June 2020 at the earliest – that was last determined by the responsible judge. If convicted, he would face up to 45 years in prison. Epstein had denied the allegations and pleaded not guilty.
Prominent acquaintances
Born in New York in 1953, Epstein made his fortune primarily as an investment banker. This is how he is said to have managed the money of a number of billionaires. However, part of its business activities remain in the dark. He maintained close contacts with the rich and powerful – for example with ex-President Bill Clinton, incumbent US President Donald Trump, Prince Andrew from Great Britain and Woody Allen.
Photos of the latter were found in Epstein’s house. There have been allegations of abuse against all for years. Clinton, for example, has had to declare his ties to Epstein several times. At last he let it be known that he did not know anything about Epstein’s sexual crimes and that he no longer had any contact. A spokesman also stated that Clinton had used Epstein’s private jet several times in connection with his work for his foundation.
US President Trump also recently distanced himself from Epstein. He had a falling out with him a long time ago and wasn’t a fan of his. In an interview with New York Magazine in 2002, Donald Trump described Epstein as a “great man”.
Causa Epstein cost US Secretary of Labor the office
US Secretary of Labor Alex Acosta resigned last month in the wake of the abuse scandal. As a public prosecutor, he had negotiated an out-of-court settlement with Epstein more than ten years ago, which saved him from going to a federal court in return for a confession. The investment banker received just 18 months’ imprisonment and was released after 13 months. He was spared a trial before a federal court.
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