US Judiciary Releases Jeffrey Epstein's 'Suicide Letter'

A New York court  on Wednesday, May 7, 2026, released a letter purportedly a suicide note written by convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein before his death.

District Court Judge Kenneth Karas granted a request by The New York Times, which had previously reported on the letter and sought her release.

Karas ruled that the letter was a judicial document subject to the public's right to information, as it was submitted as part of the criminal case of Tartaglione, who is serving four consecutive life sentences for drug-related murders. Karas oversaw that case.

The judge found no legal reason to keep the letter unredacted, but he did not confirm the authenticity of the letter and did not assess its chain of possession, instead deeming these issues unrelated to the decision to declassify, and the  judge said in his ruling that "no party has presented a counter-opinion justifying keeping the letter blocked."

The prisoner, who was with Epstein in his cell, said he found the letter in a book after Epstein's failed suicide attempt, weeks before his death in August 2019, and the  cellmate reportedly handed the letter to his lawyer to refute allegations that he had assaulted Epstein.

Was it a farewell text?

The letter, written on underlined paper, reads: "They interrogated me for months and found nothing. It's a real pleasure to be able to choose the right time to say goodbye."

"What do you want me to do? Should I start crying? No fun in that. It's not worth it." Epstein's name is not mentioned in the letter, nor is it unsigned, and includes the phrase "It is a pleasure to be able to choose the time to say goodbye."

The letter remained sealed for years as part of Epstein's cellmate's criminal proceedings, but was unsealed by Judge Kenneth Karas of the Southern District Court of New York after a request from The New York Times.

Although the authenticity of the document has not been verified, its disclosure comes as questions continue to be raised about the death of the influential financier while he awaits the verdict.

A case plagued by security gaps

His death was ruled a suicide, but several security lapses in the prison and the disappearance of surveillance camera footage have raised doubts about the official version.

Epstein was found injured in his cell in late July 2019 in what officials described as a failed suicide attempt.

The letter was allegedly written and put into a graphic novel prior to this previous incident. Epstein's case continues to spark controversy among U.S. and British politicians, after documents related to the extensive investigation into the financier's life were revealed in previous months.

Epstein pleaded guilty in Florida in 2008 to soliciting a minor into prostitution, a conviction that led to  a controversial settlement and a short prison sentence. He was arrested again in July 2019 and charged with sex trafficking in minors, with accusations of recruiting and assaulting underage girls in New York and Florida.