The Bureau of Prisons got a scathing rebuke from the Office of the Inspector General on Tuesday over failures that preceded the suicide of Jeffrey Epstein following his arrest in 2019, CNN reported.
Prison employees failed to conduct cell searches to check on Epstein, as well as monitor his access to bed linens which he used to hang himself. They also failed to assign him a cellmate after he was placed on suicide watch, CNN reported.
The inspector general did not find any issues with the FBI's conclusion on how Epstein died.
After being arrested in July 2019 on federal charges of sex trafficking minors, Epstein died by suicide by hanging in his jail cell at New York City’s Metropolitan Correctional Center, 35 days after his arrest.
The report said that the Bureau of Prisons' failings also led to a wave of conspiracy theories about his death.
"Two guards on duty the night of Epstein’s death later admitted to falsifying records at the time. According to the initial indictment against the two guards, on the night of Epstein’s suicide, both individuals repeatedly failed to complete the required prisoners check during their watch," CNN's report stated.
"The guards entered a deferred prosecution with the Justice Department, agreeing to complete 100 hours of community service and cooperate with the DOJ’s Inspector General review."
Read the full report over at CNN.
