# Jeffery Epstein has been arrested for sex trafficking a minor **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [July 7, 2019, 5:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jeffery-epstein-has-been-arrested-for-sex-trafficking-a-minor/836658 "2019-07-07T05:03:08Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 28
**Author:** ![not\_what\_you\_d\_expect](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/not_what_you_d_expect/32/3246_2.png) [@not\_what\_you\_d\_expect](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/not_what_you_d_expect)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2019, 6:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jeffery-epstein-has-been-arrested-for-sex-trafficking-a-minor/836658/541 "2019-08-11T18:10:42Z")
I hope I live long enough to see the movie they make out of all this someday. I hope it’ll be along the lines of “All the Presidents Men” or something like that. I wonder who’ll play Epstein. I can’t think of anyone odious enough. ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2019, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jeffery-epstein-has-been-arrested-for-sex-trafficking-a-minor/836658/542 "2019-08-11T18:15:33Z")
> [@not\_what\_you\_d\_expect](#): > > I hope I live long enough to see the movie they make out of all this someday. > > I hope it’ll be along the lines of “All the Presidents Men” or something like that. I wonder who’ll play Epstein. I can’t think of anyone odious enough. Kevin Spacey? ---
**Author:** ![Rick\_Kitchen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rick_kitchen/32/522_2.png) [@Rick\_Kitchen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick_Kitchen)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2019, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jeffery-epstein-has-been-arrested-for-sex-trafficking-a-minor/836658/543 "2019-08-11T18:25:19Z")
> [@drad\_dog](#): > > This whole thing is giving me Epstein-Barr. Thank you. That thought had come to me and I was trying to work it into a post. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Euphonious\_Polemic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/euphonious_polemic/32/3002_2.png) [@Euphonious\_Polemic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Euphonious_Polemic)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2019, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jeffery-epstein-has-been-arrested-for-sex-trafficking-a-minor/836658/544 "2019-08-11T18:48:42Z")
> [@JohnT](#): > > NY Times: > > “Breaking News: Jeffrey Epstein was left alone and not closely monitored before his suicide, in apparent violation of jail procedures, officials said.” > > [https://nyti.ms/31uEwiW](https://t.co/cxxS33zgVN) > > Didn’t Barr have Epstein suddenly transferred to this jail because “Rikers was too insecure” or something? “Ooopsie”. Keep your eyes open for senior prison management to suddenly have a desire to retire to their place in the Cayman Islands… ---
**Author:** ![Locrian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/locrian/32/14146_2.png) [@Locrian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Locrian)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2019, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jeffery-epstein-has-been-arrested-for-sex-trafficking-a-minor/836658/545 "2019-08-11T19:06:04Z")
> [@Fiveyearlurker](#): > > Oh, don’t get me wrong, I believe he killed himself. But I also believe that it was entirely preventable had prevention been the goal. > [@JohnT](#): > > We have a mob boss as President, his hand-chosen consigliere as AG, and a “billionaire pedophile” with a treasure trove (literally) of secrets about rich and powerful men including said mob boss President… and y’all are arguing for “incompetence”. > > OK. I’m a combination of these things. I think he wanted to kill himself and plenty of people that had business with him agreed, so someone paid someone else to look the other way. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Stainless\_Steel\_Rat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_stainless_steel_rat/32/5727_2.png) [@The\_Stainless\_Steel\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Stainless_Steel_Rat)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2019, 7:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jeffery-epstein-has-been-arrested-for-sex-trafficking-a-minor/836658/546 "2019-08-11T19:22:23Z")
> [@drad\_dog](#): > > This whole thing is giving me Epstein-Barr. > [@dasmoocher](#): > > It’s gone viral. You two should be ashamed of yourselves…_chortling uncontrollably_ On topic, There seems to be three possibilities as I understand it: 1. There was a deep-seated and malevolent conspiracy by (take your pick) to have him killed by persons unknown. 2. There was a deep-seated and malevolent conspiracy by (take your pick) to allow him to kill himself by bribing the jailers. 3. There was a FUBAR at the jail that left a deeply depressed man alone and unwatched and he committed suicide on his own. Occam’s Razor suggests we go for the simplest one that fits the facts, i.e., Number 3, unless evidence appears that strongly confirms 1 or 2. This being left alone and off suicide watch indicates that Number 2 may be in play, but it also fills the Number 3 slot. No evidence that I can see points to Number 1. FBI and Justice Department are both saying they will investigate: [FBI and DoJ launch investigations into Jeffrey Epstein's death | Jeffrey Epstein | The Guardian](https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2019/aug/11/jeffrey-epstein-death-fbi-doj-launch-investigations) Doesn’t matter, the Number 1 bug is loose and, like JFK, I doubt it will be corralled in our time… Press on. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2019, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jeffery-epstein-has-been-arrested-for-sex-trafficking-a-minor/836658/547 "2019-08-11T19:34:54Z")
> [@JohnT](#): > > Didn’t Barr have Epstein suddenly transferred to this jail because “Rikers was too insecure” or something? Riker’s Island is a NYC jail, while Metropolitan Correctional Center is a federal facility and I believe he was being held on federal charges. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2019, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jeffery-epstein-has-been-arrested-for-sex-trafficking-a-minor/836658/548 "2019-08-11T19:41:15Z")
> [@Euphonious\_Polemic](#): > > Keep your eyes open for senior prison management to suddenly have a desire to retire to their place in the Cayman Islands… And for those who suddenly have the means to buy a retirement home in the Caribbean. ---
**Author:** ![Try2B\_Comprehensive](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/try2b_comprehensive/32/65_2.png) [@Try2B\_Comprehensive](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Try2B_Comprehensive)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2019, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jeffery-epstein-has-been-arrested-for-sex-trafficking-a-minor/836658/549 "2019-08-11T19:44:39Z")
1. I believe he is dead, but I want to see photos of the body, in custody, at least. After all, one thing we know for sure is that he got out of jail. 2. The country’s highest profile, billionaire pedophile international super villain was allowed to hang himself under maximum security? Maybe. Wait, really? :dubious: ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2019, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jeffery-epstein-has-been-arrested-for-sex-trafficking-a-minor/836658/550 "2019-08-11T20:11:54Z")
> [@Steve\_MB](#): > > I’m waiting for some kind of other shoe to drop. I can’t believe that someone with Epstein’s inflated ego would kill himself if it meant giving up the chance to drag down some of the associates who (at least in his opinion, and perhaps for real) hung him out to dry. I think his ego is why he would take his life. I think he realized that this time he’s screwed and isn’t getting out of it. A person like him can never accept being powerless so he did the one thing he could to “win”. ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2019, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jeffery-epstein-has-been-arrested-for-sex-trafficking-a-minor/836658/551 "2019-08-11T20:57:37Z")
> [@The\_Stainless\_Steel\_Rat](#): > > FBI and Justice Department are both saying they will investigate: [FBI and DoJ launch investigations into Jeffrey Epstein's death | Jeffrey Epstein | The Guardian](https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2019/aug/11/jeffrey-epstein-death-fbi-doj-launch-investigations) Which would be more reassuring if we had a reason to _not_ consider them completely corrupt, and under the control of someone who has every reason to order any inconvenient facts suppressed. All we are ever going to be able to do is speculate, because I don’t think there will\* ever\* be a real investigation. Not now, not after Trump, not ever. There’s not much point in waiting for the facts to come out, because they never will. > [@Steve\_MB](#): > > I’m waiting for some kind of other shoe to drop. I can’t believe that someone with Epstein’s inflated ego would kill himself if it meant giving up the chance to drag down some of the associates who (at least in his opinion, and perhaps for real) hung him out to dry. > [@Atamasama](#): > > I think his ego is why he would take his life. I think he realized that this time he’s screwed and isn’t getting out of it. A person like him can never accept being powerless so he did the one thing he could to “win”. This; he could easily have decided to kill himself because that was the last bit of power he could exert. A fatal version of “You can’t fire me, I quit”. ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2019, 9:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jeffery-epstein-has-been-arrested-for-sex-trafficking-a-minor/836658/552 "2019-08-11T21:07:01Z")
How, would a person under suicide watch be able to procure the materials to hang oneself? Sure I suppose you can tear up sheets or whatnot. But why would there be anything that he could hang himself from? How is this done? I mean, I don’t think it’s possible to strangle yourself with your bare hands. It was allowed to happen. While I have no problem with him taking a shortcut to hell, there are a LOT of people that don’t want to see him in a courtroom. Everything that has been discovered about this piece of shit needs to be made public. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2019, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jeffery-epstein-has-been-arrested-for-sex-trafficking-a-minor/836658/553 "2019-08-11T21:24:10Z")
> [@enipla](#): > > How, would a person under suicide watch be able to procure the materials to hang oneself? I don’t know, but he was _not_ under suicide watch. ---
**Author:** ![Lamoral](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lamoral/32/16078_2.png) [@Lamoral](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lamoral)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2019, 9:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jeffery-epstein-has-been-arrested-for-sex-trafficking-a-minor/836658/554 "2019-08-11T21:45:13Z")
> [@enipla](#): > > Everything that has been discovered about this piece of shit needs to be made public. You and I both know that the chances of “everything” being made public are somewhere around the chances of me suiting up for the Yankees and hitting a home run, and then sinking 18 consecutive holes in one at Augusta, on the same day. “Need” hasn’t got shit to do with it. ---
**Author:** ![davidm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidm/32/225_2.png) [@davidm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davidm)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2019, 9:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jeffery-epstein-has-been-arrested-for-sex-trafficking-a-minor/836658/555 "2019-08-11T21:45:29Z")
How does someone in a jail cell.hang themselves? I know it’s possible since it happens often and apparently happened here, but how? Are there over head pipes or something? Is there a light fixture that a belt or whatever can be attached to? You would think that cells would be designed to make it impossible or difficult. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2019, 10:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jeffery-epstein-has-been-arrested-for-sex-trafficking-a-minor/836658/556 "2019-08-11T22:22:26Z")
Others can probably address this with more expertise than me, but I saw a movie or TV show in which a character tied the bed sheet to the bars of the cell, wrapped the other end around his neck and then lowered himself to the ground. ---
**Author:** ![davidm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidm/32/225_2.png) [@davidm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davidm)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2019, 10:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jeffery-epstein-has-been-arrested-for-sex-trafficking-a-minor/836658/557 "2019-08-11T22:26:29Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > Others can probably address this with more expertise than me, but I saw a movie or TV show in which a character tied the bed sheet to the bars of the cell, wrapped the other end around his neck and then lowered himself to the ground. But aren’t the bars vertical? Wouldn’t the sheet or whatever slide down? ---
**Author:** ![Sam\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Sam\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sam_Stone)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2019, 10:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jeffery-epstein-has-been-arrested-for-sex-trafficking-a-minor/836658/558 "2019-08-11T22:26:36Z")
Apparently, you can even hang yourself with as little as a pair of pants and a sink. Tie and twist them to make them as tight as possible around your neck, then hang them over the faucet and let your weight down so you are hanging from the edge of the sink, or something like that. On suicide watch you aren’t even allowed to have bedclothes. The real question is why one of the most important witnesses in the world, who had recently tried to kill himself, was taken off of suicide watch. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2019, 10:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jeffery-epstein-has-been-arrested-for-sex-trafficking-a-minor/836658/559 "2019-08-11T22:48:23Z")
> [@Sam\_Stone](#): > > On suicide watch you aren’t even allowed to have bedclothes. The real question is why one of the most important witnesses in the world, who had recently tried to kill himself, was taken off of suicide watch. So he could succeed. Duh. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Sherrerd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sherrerd/32/8_2.png) [@Sherrerd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sherrerd)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2019, 1:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jeffery-epstein-has-been-arrested-for-sex-trafficking-a-minor/836658/560 "2019-08-12T01:44:23Z")
> [@Sam\_Stone](#): > > The real question is why one of the most important witnesses in the world, who had recently tried to kill himself, was taken off of suicide watch. AND why his cellmate was removed AND why the normal checks that would take place even for an inmate not on suicide watch, did not take place. For those who are trying to sell the idea that this was the result of ordinary jailhouse mistakes: you have a steep hill to climb to explain how so large a set of unlikely events came together. Though Barr will, obviously, seek to cover up the truth, there are still many pieces of information that can (and we hope, will) be discovered by journalists and politicians with standing to demand them. (And litigants with standing, too.) Follow the personnel at the facility: do some appear to have been promoted or financially benefited unexpectedly? Do some meet with accidents? What are the explanations given for the anomalous occurrences (such as that removal from suicide watch)? It’s likely that Trump will manufacture new outrages to try to push this out of the public eye. But this is a big story. I’m not sure that he will be able to succeed in burying it—even with Barr’s help. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jeffery-epstein-has-been-arrested-for-sex-trafficking-a-minor/836658.md?page=27) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jeffery-epstein-has-been-arrested-for-sex-trafficking-a-minor/836658.md?page=29)