Adding weight, some say, to theories that Jeffrey Epstein was murdered, prosecutors have revealed that crucial video evidence is now missing.
The video footage from a surveillance camera outside the cell at the Metropolitan Correctional Center, the centerpiece of the most high-visibility court case of the decade, has mysteriously disappeared prosecutors said Wednesday.
The shocking announcement was made as media outlets were pre-occupied with wall-to-wall coverage of the impeachment proceedings.
Epstein was in jail awaiting trial for sex trafficking and rape of under-age girls. Records indicated that high profile Democrats were guests at his properties where the rapes and abuse occurred. Names include Prince Andrew of Britain, top Democrat Party donors and former President Bill Clinton. Records also show that Clinton abandoned his Secret Service detail several times to travel alone to Epstein’s properties using Epstein’s private plane.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jason Swergold admitted neither officials, staff or law enforcement can find the footage of the outside of the cell the multimillionaire convicted sex offender shared with accused quadruple murderer Nick Tartaglione.
Tartaglione faces the death for previous murders, and the footage showing him saving Epstein’s life could help him win a potential appeal of a death sentence. Epstein had claimed that his previous injuries were from Tartaglione attacking him.
Former Briarcliff Manor police officer Nick Tartaglione. (Facebook)
Tartaglione’s attorney Bruce Barket confirmed that the footage could not be found. Barket requested the footage to back up Tartaglione’s testimony that the ex-police officer acted to save Epstein’s life when the convicted sex offender tried to commit suicide. The two were sharing a prison cell at the time.
Epstein allegedly died by suicide on Aug. 10 while awaiting trial for sex crimes. Before his death, Epstein had accused Tartaglione of attempting to strangle him two weeks earlier. Photos were released of marks around Epstein’s neck showing bruising.
Weeks later, Epstein was found dead. The guards tasked with watching Epstein left the inmate alone for roughly three hours after the guards fell asleep during their shifts. Those guards have been charged with neglecting their duties and falsifying evidence to cover up that they left Epstein unattended.
The video surrounding the Epstein death is important in answering important questions surrounding the incident.
Barket said that Tartaglione has still not been questioned about Epstein’s suicide. Multiple probes are underway about how Epstein managed to kill himself in the federal lock up.