Full Breakdown
Sealed Suicide Note of Jeffrey Epstein Remains Hidden as New York Times Seeks Unsealing
5/1/2026, 8:20:47 PM
Discovery and Sealing of the Alleged Suicide Note
In July 2019, Nicholas Tartaglione—serving four consecutive life sentences for a 2023 quadruple-murder conviction—reported finding a handwritten note in a graphic novel left in his cell at the Metropolitan Correctional Center (MCC). The note, allegedly written on yellow legal-pad paper, claimed investigators had “found nothing” and ended with “time to say goodbye.” Tartaglione turned the document over to his lawyers, who later authenticated it through handwriting experts. A federal judge subsequently sealed the note as part of Tartaglione’s criminal case, keeping it out of the public record and away from the Justice Department’s investigation of Epstein’s death.
Timeline
- July 6 2019 – Jeffrey Epstein arrives at MCC.
- July 23 2019 – First suicide attempt; cloth found around his neck.
- July 24 2019 – Epstein removed from suicide watch.
- July 27 2019 – Tartaglione discovers the note (chart notes “Sometime between 7/23 and 7/27, NT found the note”).
- August 8 2019 – Epstein signs a new will.
- August 10 2019 – Epstein is found dead; death ruled suicide.
- January 2020 – Tartaglione’s lawyer Bruce Barket authenticates the note.
- December 2023 – DOJ releases >3 million pages of Epstein-related files, none containing the note.
- April 30 2026 – The New York Times petitions U.S. District Judge Kenneth Karas to unseal the note.
- May 4 2026 – Deadline for parties to respond to the petition.
Data & Statistics
- The note has been sealed for nearly seven years.
- The Justice Department has released 3–3.5 million pages of Epstein files, yet the note is absent.
- Tartaglione’s case involves four life sentences for a 2023 quadruple-murder conviction.
Official Statements & Responses
A Justice Department spokesperson said the agency “has not seen” the note and that “it is difficult to comment on something neither the New York Times, nor we, have seen.” Judge Kenneth Karas ordered the parties to file responses by May 4, 2026, without commenting on the note’s contents. The New York Times argued that the seal “deprived investigators of a potentially key piece of evidence” and urged transparency.
Criticism & Opposition
Legal scholars and advocacy groups have criticized the prolonged seal, contending that it hampers accountability in a high-profile death. The Times’ petition frames the secrecy as “unprecedented” given the extensive release of other Epstein documents. Critics also note that the authentication process remains opaque; Tartaglione’s lawyers used “handwriting experts,” but no methodology has been disclosed.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
- Authenticity: Lawyers authenticated the note, yet the basis for that determination is undisclosed.
- Content verification: Only Tartaglione’s recollection of the text is available; the actual wording cannot be confirmed.
- Investigative access: DOJ officials confirm they have not seen the note, despite its alleged relevance to the suicide investigation.
- Sealed chronology: A two-page “timeline” references the note but offers no explanation of its creation or handling.
Verbatim Quotes
- “It said something like 'FBI, you know, looked into me for months and found nothing.' Then he wrote, 'What do you want me to do? Cry about it?' And he was weird because he wrote a smiley face, and then he wrote 'time to say goodbye,'” — Nicholas Tartaglione, former cellmate
- “Sometime between 7/23 and 7/27, NT found the note,” — Chart in Justice Department documents
- “Inmate Epstein denied any past or present suicidal ideation, intention or plan. He denied ever engaging in any suicide attempts or self-injurious behavior in the past,” — Suicide risk assessment report
- “The Department of Justice told NewsNation, “It is difficult to comment on something neither the New York Times, nor we, have seen.” — Justice Department spokesperson
- “I opened the book to read it and there it was,” — Nicholas Tartaglione, interview
- “Winter told The Times that he took the note to the court and handed it to a clerk, but he did not remember what was written on it.” — John Winter, attorney
Why It Matters
If authentic, the note could illuminate Epstein’s mindset weeks before his death and clarify whether he believed investigators had “found nothing.” Its concealment raises questions about the completeness of the federal inquiry and fuels public demand for full disclosure in a case that continues to shape discussions of elite accountability.
What’s Next
Judge Karas will consider the New York Times’ request after the May 4 deadline. A ruling to unseal the note could allow prosecutors, investigators, and the public to examine its contents, potentially influencing ongoing legal scrutiny of Epstein’s network and the broader handling of high-profile inmate deaths.
