Epstein’s Ex-Cellmate Claims He Found Secret Suicide Note, NYT Seeks Its Release

A federal judge has set a hard deadline for responses in a legal battle over a purported suicide note written by Jeffrey Epstein and allegedly discovered by his ex-cellmate, Nicholas Tartaglione, in 2019. The New York Times wants the note made public, arguing that courts have kept it hidden from public view for years.

The note reportedly surfaced during Epstein’s incarceration at the Metropolitan Correctional Center in New York, where Tartaglione—a former police officer convicted of four murders—was briefly housed as Epstein’s cellmate. According to a Justice Department document recently released, Tartaglione found the note tucked inside a graphic novel sometime between July 23 and July 27, 2019. The note reportedly said authorities had found no evidence against Epstein despite months of investigation and concluded with the chilling line: “What do you want me to do, bust out crying? Time to say goodbye.”

Tartaglione publicly mentioned the note for the first time last year on a podcast, but the existence of the document has remained shrouded in secrecy, sparking questions about what the note might reveal about Epstein’s final days and the circumstances surrounding his death. Epstein was found with a makeshift noose around his neck on July 23, 2019, and died by suicide shortly after being moved to a different cell.

The Department of Justice has declined to comment directly on the note, citing that neither they nor the Times have actually seen the document. The DOJ also emphasized that it has made an “exhaustive effort” to release records in compliance with the Epstein Files Transparency Act.

This legal tussle unfolds amid ongoing congressional investigations into Epstein’s network and the government’s handling of his case. The House Oversight Committee recently announced plans to question former Attorney General Pam Bondi, focusing on decisions about which Epstein-related documents were released or withheld.

The fight over the note’s release is more than just a procedural dispute. It underscores the persistent cloud of suspicion and unanswered questions hanging over Epstein’s death—a death that many believe was mishandled or covered up to protect powerful enablers. Tartaglione’s claim and the Times’ push for transparency may finally force the courts to open a window into the darkest corners of this scandal.