Story perspectives

NY Times Seeks Unsealing of Epstein Suicide Note

5/1/2026

Summary

Story summary

The New York Times asked a judge to unseal a suicide note by Jeffrey Epstein.
Judge Kenneth Karas sealed note in Nicholas Tartaglione’s case to protect attorney-client privilege after Tartaglione, Epstein’s cellmate serving sentences, said he found it in a graphic novel in July 2019 following Epstein’s suicide attempt.
The note, reading “time to say goodbye,” remains in a New York vault and is absent from Justice Department’s released Epstein files.

History

Historical Context

In 1974, the U.S. Supreme Court’s United States v. Nixon decision forced the release of President Richard Nixon’s 18-hour Oval Office tape recordings. The Court, led by Chief Justice Warren Burger, rejected Nixon’s claim of absolute executive privilege, citing an 8-page subpoena from the Watergate Special Prosecution Force. Today, New York Times reporter requests Judge Kenneth Karas to unseal Jeffrey Epstein’s sealed suicide note, while the Department of Justice withholds the document, echoing the tension between privileged secrecy and public demand. The 1974 precedent suggests courts may compel disclosure, reshaping access to high-profile criminal evidence and influencing future transparency battles.

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Story summary

The New York Times asked a judge to unseal a suicide note by Jeffrey Epstein.
Judge Kenneth Karas sealed note in Nicholas Tartaglione’s case to protect attorney-client privilege after Tartaglione, Epstein’s cellmate serving sentences, said he found it in a graphic novel in July 2019 following Epstein’s suicide attempt.
The note, reading “time to say goodbye,” remains in a New York vault and is absent from Justice Department’s released Epstein files.

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