Correct procedure was not followed before Epstein's death.
Jeffrey Epstein, the disgraced financier and billionaire who was convicted of sex crimes against minors in 2008, died by suicide in his prison cell while awaiting trial for many more sexual offences yesterday.
It has emerged today that Epstein, despite a suicide attempt just weeks ago, was not being closely monitored before his death, and had ben "left alone."
The
New York Times has reported that guards were supposed to check on Epstein every 30 minutes, a procedure which was not followed on the evening of his death.
The Bureau of Prisons had already come in for criticism for confirming yesterday that Epstein had been taken off suicide watch, despite his earlier suicide attempt.
The circumstances surrounding Epstein's death are now likely to be the focus of an FBI investigation. Politicians from both the Republican and Democratic parties have called for further inquiry into death.
The jail had also transferred out his cellmate, and Epstein had a cell to himself by the time of his death. Officials have claimed that this was also a breach of normal procedure.
Epstein was known to have been friends with many other high-profile public figures, including presidents Donald Trump and Bill Clinton.
The strange circumstances of Epstein's death have resulted in the proliferation of multiple conspiracy theories online, though there is no evidence to undermine the official account provided by the Metropolitan Correctional Centre.
