Smiles and denials: New details about Epstein's first suicide attempt emerge from files

Following his first reported suicide attempt, convicted sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein appeared to recover quickly and showed no visible distress during a subsequent prison interview, according to newly released files reviewed by the Washington Post.

The documents detail Epstein's first suicide attempt on July 23, 2019, when he was discovered on his cell floor with a makeshift orange noose around his neck. After staff members removed the noose and placed him in restraints, medical personnel noted redness and abrasions around his neck. Prison officials placed him on suicide watch with 15-minute observation intervals.

A log entry at 2:30 a.m. noted, "inmate sitting on bed trying to remember what happened." Medical records from that morning indicate Epstein appeared to recover rapidly from the incident. A healthcare provider documented that he was breathing normally, did not appear distressed, and smiled during the examination. When questioned about the incident, Epstein declined to discuss it, stating only that he "went to drink a little water and [woke] up snorting."

Documentation from a prison psychologist indicated that Epstein stated he "doesn't like pain and didn't want to hurt himself," adding that he believed suicide "was against his religion." Prison logbooks showed no signs of suicidal ideation and noted his participation in legal meetings.

On July 26, the prison's chief psychologist received a communication from a Bureau of Prisons headquarters psychologist questioning why Epstein had been stepped down from suicide watch rather than remaining under observation. The chief psychologist responded with justification for the decision but acknowledged uncertainty about the appropriateness of the action.

The released files contain no conclusive evidence suggesting foul play in Epstein's death on August 10, 2019, when he was found unresponsive in his cell.

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