A federal judge in New York has ordered the release of an alleged farewell note attributed to the disgraced financier, Jeffrey Epstein. This document had been sealed for nearly five years in the court files of his former cellmate.
Judge Kenneth Karas of the Southern District of New York included the document in the court records this week following a formal request by The New York Times. The newspaper had petitioned the court last week to unveil the note and disclose the circumstances under which it was discovered.
The note begins with a defiant tone: "I was investigated for months, THEY FOUND NOTHING!!!" it states.
The message continues: "It's a privilege to choose when to say goodbye. What do you want me to do, break down in tears? IT'S NOT FUN. IT'S NOT WORTH IT." The final phrases are underlined in the original document.
According to court records, Nicholas Tartaglione—a former New York police officer sentenced to life for the quadruple murder of four men in 2016—claimed to have found the note in July 2019. It was folded inside a book in the cell and written on yellow legal notepad paper.
Tartaglione discovered it after Epstein was found unconscious with a fabric strip around his neck on July 23, 2019, at the Metropolitan Correctional Center in Lower Manhattan.
Epstein survived that initial incident, but less than two weeks later, on August 10, 2019, he was discovered dead in his cell at age 66, prior to facing trial for sex trafficking of minors.
The official autopsy ruled his death a suicide by hanging, though numerous irregularities have fueled speculation of foul play over the years: two surveillance cameras outside his cell malfunctioned, assigned guards falsified records and fell asleep, and Epstein was removed from suicide watch just six days after the first incident.
The authenticity of the note has not been independently verified by American media outlets.
Furthermore, the document was absent from the millions of pages released by the Department of Justice between December 2025 and January 2026, amid heightened political pressure following a massive file release related to the Epstein case.
In November 2025, the House of Representatives overwhelmingly approved a resolution mandating the Department of Justice to disclose all files connected to the case.
The Department of Justice issued an official memorandum in July 2025 closing the investigation, reaffirming suicide as the cause of death and denying the existence of any client list or evidence of blackmail against prominent figures.
The note's declassification comes at a time of growing political scrutiny: Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick has already faced congressional questioning over his ties to Epstein, and later this month, former Attorney General Pam Bondi and billionaires Leon Black and Bill Gates will be questioned by representatives about their links to the financier.
In April, Melania Trump publicly denied any connection with Epstein amidst ongoing debate over the release of files, while Epstein's main accomplice, Ghislaine Maxwell, remains imprisoned following her December 2021 conviction for sex trafficking.
Key Questions About Epstein's Farewell Note and Investigation
What did the alleged farewell note from Epstein say?
The note expressed defiance, stating that Epstein was investigated for months without findings against him. It also mentioned the privilege of choosing when to say goodbye and questioned the need to break down emotionally.
Who discovered Epstein's note and when?
The note was reportedly found by Nicholas Tartaglione, a former New York police officer, in July 2019. It was discovered in Epstein's cell, folded inside a book.
Why are there suspicions surrounding Epstein's death?
Suspicion arises from various irregularities, including malfunctioning surveillance cameras, falsified records by guards, and Epstein's removal from suicide watch shortly before his death.