A federal judge in New York has ordered the release of a handwritten note allegedly written by Jeffrey Epstein shortly after a reported suicide attempt in jail in 2019.
The document, which had remained sealed for years, was made public after The New York Times requested access to court records connected to the case of Nicholas Tartaglione, who was briefly Epstein’s cellmate at the Metropolitan Correctional Center.
According to court filings, the handwritten document was described as a “suicide note purportedly authored by Jeffrey Epstein.” Tartaglione allegedly discovered the note after Epstein’s reported suicide attempt while the two men were housed in the same jail unit.
U.S. District Judge Kenneth Karas ruled that there was not enough legal justification to continue keeping the note sealed from public view.
In his decision, Judge Karas emphasized the public’s right to access judicial records, noting that transparency helps maintain trust in the court system.
“The public has a strong presumptive right of access to certain judicial documents,” the ruling stated, according to reports.
The court also determined that attorney-client privilege protections no longer applied because Tartaglione had publicly discussed the note and its contents in interviews and legal proceedings.
Parts of the handwritten message reportedly referenced the investigations surrounding Epstein before his death. In the note, Epstein appeared frustrated by the legal scrutiny he had faced, allegedly writing:
“They investigated me for months – found nothing!!!”
Another line reportedly read:
“Time to say goodbye.”
Several sections of the document were said to be difficult to read or partially unclear.
While the judge approved the release of the note itself, the court denied additional requests from The New York Times seeking access to other sealed documents connected to the case.
Jeffrey Epstein died in August 2019 while awaiting trial on federal sex trafficking charges. His death inside the Manhattan jail sparked years of controversy, speculation, and public scrutiny surrounding the circumstances of his final days.
Officials ruled Epstein’s death a suicide, though the case has remained the subject of intense debate and widespread public attention ever since.
