Two top Republican senators on Thursday called upon Attorney General William Barr to make public the results of the Justice Department’s investigations into the death of accused sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein.
Sens. Chuck Grassley of Iowa and Ron Johnson of Wisconsin made the calls for transparency as questions continue regarding how Epstein was able to die in his New York City prison cell last weekend.
“We ask for your commitment to make the results of the FBI and IG investigations public as soon as they are completed,” Grassley and Johnson told Barr. “We also ask that you please keep us informed of the progress of these investigations so we can ensure that these problems are swiftly addressed and corrected.”
Grassley and Johnson listed just some of the alleged failures at the prison that have emerged in the last few days, including: corrections officers violating protocol by not checking on Epstein regularly despite him previously being on suicide watch; one guard assigned to watch Epstein not normally working as a corrections officer; prison guards working mandatory overtime shifts multiple days in a row and 60 or 70 hour work weeks; guards not being trained properly; guards falling asleep on the job; and the records about how often Epstein was being checked on being falsified.
The senators noted that Epstein was indicted for committing “a slew of heinous acts” including molestation, abusing underage girls, and the sex trafficking of minors. But even though “numerous victims looked forward to seeing Mr. Epstein face justice,” the senators lamented that Epstein died before justice could be served.
“We fully support your call for a thorough investigation of the circumstances surrounding Mr. Epstein’s death,” the senators said to Barr. “True accountability, however, especially for the victims of Mr. Epstein, requires full transparency.”
Barr said he was “appalled” Monday to learn of Epstein’s apparent suicide and revealed the DOJ was “learning of serious irregularities at this facility that are deeply concerning and demand a thorough investigation.” Barr also said there will be accountability for those who did not do their jobs properly.
Barr also said that the FBI and the DOJ inspector general had launched investigations into the circumstances surrounding Epstein’s death. A letter from the now-reassigned prison warden shows the July 23 incident where Epstein may have previously attempted suicide is also being investigated.
