EPSTEIN OUTRAGE GROWS

OUTRAGE and intrigue over the apparent suicide in prison of well-connected accused sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein soared yesterday as US lawmakers pushed for answers, including whether “criminal acts” played a role in his death.

Epstein, a convicted paedophile who hobnobbed with countless politicians and celebrities over the years, was found dead in his cell Saturday while awaiting trial on charges he trafficked underage girls for sex.

The discovery came a day after a court released documents in which one of Epstein’s alleged victims claimed she was forced to have sex with well-known American political and business personalities. They have all denied the allegations.

Epstein’s death in a high-security New York jail, an apparent suicide that came just weeks after an earlier possible attempt on his own life, meant he should have been under close watch and has fuelled anger and a conspiracy theory frenzy.

New York’s chief medical examiner Barbara Sampson said yesterday an autopsy had been completed, but the determination of cause of death was “pending further information at this time”.

US Attorney-General Bill Barr has instructed the Justice Department’s inspector general to probe Epstein’s death, saying it “raises serious questions that must be answered”. The FBI is also investigating.

The New York Times reported Sunday that guards were supposed to check Epstein every half-hour but that procedure was not followed the night before he was found, citing an unnamed law enforcement official.

The jail had also transferred his cellmate, leaving him alone, the Times said, citing two officials.

President Donald Trump weighed in on Sunday, retweeting a conspiracy theory alleging — without any evidence whatsoever — that Bill Clinton may be connected to Epstein’s death.

Senator Cory Booker, who’s in the 2020 presidential race, described Mr Trump’s retweet as “more recklessness” and “dangerous”.