With Barr investigating Epstein's death, Trump is safe

US Attorney General William Barr has said he initially had his own suspicions about financier Jeffrey Epstein's widely-speculated-on death while behind bars at one of the most secure jails in the United States, but came to conclude that his suicide was the result of "a perfect storm of screw-ups".

  alJazeera

That was always going to be his conclusion.

Barr's comments come days after two correctional officers who were responsible for guarding the wealthy financier when he died were charged with falsifying prison records. Officers Tova Noel and Michael Thomas are accused of sleeping and browsing the internet - shopping for furniture and motorcycles - instead of watching Epstein, who was supposed to be checked on every 30 minutes.

[...]

A lawyer for Thomas, Montell Figgins, said both guards are being "scapegoated".

That's a name worthy of a Dickens character.

The attorney general also sought to dampen conspiracy theories questioning whether Epstein really took his own life, saying the evidence proves Epstein killed himself. He added that he personally reviewed security footage that confirmed that no one entered the area where Epstein was housed on the night he died.

And we all know AG Barr is totally honest and beyond reproach.

Epstein was placed on suicide watch after he was found July 23 on his cell floor with bruises on his neck but was taken off the heightened watch about a week before his death - meaning he was less closely monitored but still supposed to be checked on every 30 minutes. He was required to have a cellmate, but he was left alone after his cellmate was transferred out of the MCC on August 9, the day before his death, the indictment said.

No holes in that scenario. Not to mention, Epstein claimed the bruises on his neck from the July 23 incident were from his cellmate choking him.

The Justice Department is still investigating the circumstances that led to the death, including why Epstein wasn't given a cellmate.

"I think it was important to have a roommate in there with him and we're looking into why that wasn't done, and I think every indication is that was a screw-up," Barr said. "The systems to assure that was done were not followed."

Just another screwup.

Even with his death, federal prosecutors in New York have continued to investigate the allegations against Epstein. Barr, who has promised to aggressively investigate and bring charges against anyone who may have helped Epstein, said investigators were making good progress in the case.

"They are definitely pushing things along," Barr said. "I'll just say there is good progress being made, and I'm hopeful in a relatively short time there will be tangible results".

That don't involve connecting Trump to Epstein's child sex abuse business.

...but hey, do what you want...you will anyway.


UPDATE 1/9/20:



A few too many coincidences.