Department of Justice

Department of Justice EXECUTIVE SECRETARIAT CONTROL SHEET DATE OF DOCUMENT: DATE RECEIVED: FROM: TO: MAIL TYPE: SUBJECT: DATE ASSI 08/13/2019 INFO COM COMMEN ED FILE CODE: NENT: EXECSEC PJOC: 8/10/2019 WORKFLOW ID: 431394P 8/12/2019 DUE DATE: 8/27/2019 The Honorable Ben Sasse' United States Senate Washington. DC 20510 AG Congressional Priority (Rec'd from OLA via email) Ltr from Chmn Sasse, Subcomte on Oversight, Agency Action, Federal Rights and Federal Courts, requesting information regarding the apparent suicide of Jeffrey Epstein, who was indicted on numerous charges for running an international child sex trafficking ring, while being held in Federal Bureau of Prisons custody. Requesting answers to the en losed questions. ACTION COMPONENT & ACTION REQUESTED OLA For appropriate handling. Advise ES of any action taken. OAG, ODAG, BOP, FBI 08/13/2019: Per OLA (Escalona), assign to OLA (Sutton) for appro riate handling. EFTA00175125 BEN SASSE NEBRASKA United States Senate WASHINGTON. DC 20610 August 10, 2019 The Honorable William P. Barr Attorney General U.S. Department of Justice Washington, DC. 20530 Dear Attorney General Barr: UAIPMIIM1), INTELLIGENCE JUDICIARY BANK'SG This morning, Jeffrey Epstein, the wealthy American financier indicted on numerous charges for running an international child sex trafficking ring, was found dead by apparent suicide. Epstein was being held in federal Bureau of Prisons custody after a federal judge denied him bail. Disturbingly, his suicide occurred after an incident less than three weeks ago when he was found injured and semi-conscious in his cell from a possible suicide attempt. News reporting indicates that he was then placed on suicide watch but may have been taken off suicide watch before today's events. The Department of Justice failed, and today Jeffrey Epstein's co-conspirators think they might have just gotten one last sweetheart deal. Every single person in the Justice Department — frortyyour Main Justice headquarters staff all the way to the night-shift jailer— knew that this man as a suicide risk, and that his dark secrets couldn't be allowed to die with him. Given Epstein's previous attempted suicide, he should have been locked in a padded roonjunder unbroken, 24/7, constant surveillance. Obviously, heads must roll. During your nomination process, you committed to me to ensuring that justice would be do or his victims. I was pleased to see the Department open an investigation into the mu ling of the ridiculous 2008 non-prosecution agreement, and then the decision to bring, su ent charges against Epstein. Knowing this monster's history of thwarting justice, I also call for him to be held without bail upon his July 6 arrest. It should have been abundantly clear that Epstein would go to any lengths to avoid being held accountable for his crimes, including by killing himself. Being responsible for Epstein's custody and prosecution, the Department of Justice should not have allowed this to happen. His death not only deprives his victims of the opportunity to confront him in court and to see him held accountable for his crimes, but also makes it harder to unravel his ring and to hold accountable the many other powerful men who raped and exploited these children. AMNI:V /HI Mil The Department must answer the following urgent questions for the American people: I. Was Epstein in fact placed on suicide watch following his previous possible suicide attempt? PNcno N i" IMAAHA CM vv ,finftMtit • t WAIMAINI'ttIN Iv' Of IF WV' EFTA00175126 2. If so, was Epstein taken off suicide watch prior to his apparent suicide this morning? And if so. why? 3. Can you confirm that you are ordering two investigations: one — presumably Inspector General investigation — into the Bureau of Prison's mismanagement of the incarceration of Epstein; and another — presumably FBI investigation — into any possible criminal activity surrounding this mismanagement? 4. Can you certify that all other potential evidence that investigators were pursuing relating to Epstein's co-conspirators is being immediately secured by the Department of Justice, so that no additional evidence or potential testimony is also squandered? Thank you in advance for your resolve to peruse justice in this matter. Sincerely. C et Ben Sasse United States Senator Chairman, Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Oversight, Agency Action, Federal Rights and Federal Courts EFTA00175127 Page I of l From: DOJ Correspondence (SMO) [ Sent: Monday, August 12, 201912:33: To: DOJExecSec (JMD) CC: Subject: FW: Letter from Sen. Sasse to AG Barr Pls log & per OLA assign to OLA for appropriate ha ndling.A OLA is POC. Pls frwd via email Olathe Service" after ES completes processing. Thanks. A From: Payne, William (Sasse) < Sent: Saturday, August 10, 2019 2:14 PM To: Cc: DOJ Correspondence SMO <E _ Subject: Letter from Sen. Sane to AG Barr > Attached is a letter from Sen. Sasse to Attorney General Barr. Please acknowledge receipt. Thanks, Will William R. Payne Chief Counsel to Sen. Ben Sasse U.S. Senate Committee on the Judiciary https://iqapp.justapps.doj.gov/iq/StreamDownloader.aspx?path=&filename=8152019_7394... 8/15/2019 EFTA00175128