Credit:   Department of Justice / Jeffrey Epstein 

By Gary Raynaldo       DIPLOMATIC  TIMES

Convicted Billionaire Pedophile Jeffrey Epstein, 66, has died inside a Manhattan correctional facility early Saturday morning, according to law enforcement officials who said it appeared he had committed suicide.  Epstein hanged himself, law enforcement sources said. He was transported in cardiac arrest at 6:39 a.m. from Metropolitan Correctional Center to New York Downtown Hospital, ABC News reported.  Epstein entered a not-guilty plea July  8  in federal court after being arrested and accused of sex trafficking charges involving dozens of young girls in New York and Florida. Epstein was arrested and charged with sex trafficking of minors and conspiracy to commit sex trafficking of minors. According to the  indictment,  between 2002 through 2005, Epstein sexually exploited and abused dozens of underage girls by enticing them to engage in sex acts with him in exchange for money. Epstein allegedly worked with several employees and associates to ensure that he had a steady supply of minor victims to  abuse, and paid several of those victims themselves to recruit other underage girls to engage in similar acts for money.  Epstein allegedly committed the offenses in locations including New  York, NY, and Palm Beach, FL  Epstein was set to stand trial next year for allegedly sexually abusing dozens of minor girls in New York and Florida.  According to media reports, Epstein was connected with people like Bill Clinton and with Donald Trump in the past. 

And just the day before Epstein’s suicide, newly unsealed court documents reveal shocking details about the Epstein scandal, including the identities of prominent men who were involved in the alleged sex-trafficking ring. The Miami Herald reports the cache of documents include the 2016 deposition of Virginia Giuffre, who has accused Epstein and his alleged madam, Ghislaine Maxwell, of trafficking her to high-profile men.  Big names include Britain’s Prince Andrew, former New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson, and former U.S. Senator George Mitchell. All three men deny the allegations. 

Credit: By Gary Raynaldo / Southern District of New York Federal courthouse in Manhattan where Epstein appeared  July 8,  2019, and pleaded not guilty to sex trafficking charges.

Credit:  Department of Justice / Jeffrey Epstein pleads not guilty on July 8, 2019 after sex trafficking arrest.