EP TAPE MISSING
Footage of suicide-try cell not preserved
Surveillance footage of the outside of Jeffrey Epstein’s cell at the troubled Metropolitan Correctional Center during his first suicide attempt has gone missing, prosecutors revealed Wednesday.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jason Swergold admitted, during a hearing in White Plains Federal Court, that no one can find the footage of the outside of the cell the multimillionaire perv shared with accused quadruple murderer Nicholas Tartaglione (right inset).
Tartaglione, a former Briarcliff Manor, Westchester County, cop, faces the death penalty for the alleged murders in a drug deal gone bad.
Bruce Barket, an attorney for Tartaglione, confirmed the stunning revelation that the footage was not preserved. The Manhattan U.S. Attorney’s Office declined comment.
Tartaglione’s attorneys filed a request for the footage to be retained two days after Epstein’s unsuccessful suicide attempt on July 23, Barket said.
“It is on the surface troubling,” Barket said. “I’ll reserve judgment until I’ve found out more details.”
Judge Kenneth Karas asked the government to look further into what happened to the footage.
The Daily News previously reported that Tartaglione claimed to have saved Epstein’s life after the pedophile perv tried to hang himself. Epstein reportedly claimed that Tartaglione attacked him.
“Nick acted appropriately and admirably,” Barket said.
The video footage was relevant to Tartaglione’s defense because it is potentially evidence of the ex-cop’s good character.
In the event Tartaglione is found guilty and reaches the death penalty phase, the Epstein incident could possibly be evidence showing why he doesn’t deserve to die.
Epstein (left inset) successfully hanged himself in a different cell two weeks after the first attempt. His body was discovered Aug. 10. Two correction officers have been charged with neglecting their duties and falsifying records the night of Epstein’s death.
Barket said that Tartaglione has still not been questioned about Epstein’s suicide. Multiple probes are underway about how Epstein managed to kill himself in the federal lockup.