House Committee Interviews Prison Guard Linked to Epstein’s Death

The House Oversight and Government Reform Committee recently conducted an interview with Tovah Noel, a prison guard who claims to have been the last person to see Jeffrey Epstein alive. This took place at New York City’s Metropolitan Correctional Center (MCC) on August 9, 2019, just before Epstein was found dead in his cell. It seems only a few committee members were around to document the private session with Noel.

Lawmakers revealed that Noel received cash deposits amounting to $12,000 between April 2018 and July 2019. Notably, she deposited $5,000 in cash just ten days prior to Epstein’s death, as reported by various sources.

Rep. Melanie Stansbury from New Mexico, one of the few who attended the briefing, criticized the “confused” Republican majority and constant changes in scheduling, which she suggests contributed to low attendance. She expressed that she believed Noel was honest in her testimony.

The House plans to hold a vote on Wednesday, according to official announcements.

A spokesperson for the committee mentioned that Chairman James Comer, a Republican from Kentucky, was absent due to family matters. While they indicated a transcript of the interview would be made available soon, immediate comments were not provided.

Democratic Rep. Suhas Subrahmanyam from Virginia, speaking outside the closed session, emphasized that the system has once again failed survivors and noted the failure to properly hold Epstein accountable.

Subrahmanyam pointed out that he believes Epstein took his own life, attributing this to incompetence and insufficient supervision at the facility. He remarked on the special treatment Epstein received, which included access to certain privileges that other inmates did not have.

Federal investigators indicated that Noel was likely the last person to see Epstein alive, leading to various theories about the circumstances surrounding his death. Reports suggest that guards had conducted online searches related to Epstein shortly before his body was discovered.

Officially, Epstein’s death was deemed a suicide by hanging, a conclusion supported by the Department of Justice during the Trump administration, yet this ruling remains contentious among many. A federal judge has recently mandated the release of what is believed to be Epstein’s suicide note, which contains some unclear phrases that may hint at his state of mind.

During her time at MCC, Noel described performing routine checks on inmates when Epstein requested a sleep apnea machine. She noted that nothing seemed particularly unusual at that moment but acknowledged that exceptions were made due to Epstein’s identity, allowing him privileges denied to others.

Following Epstein’s death, Noel and another guard were charged for allegedly failing to perform their duties adequately. However, these charges were ultimately dropped by federal prosecutors, and both guards were let go in December 2021. Meanwhile, legal proceedings against Epstein’s associate, Ghislaine Maxwell, were still ongoing.

Noel, who is a military veteran, started working in the federal prison system in 2018, just a year before Epstein’s death.