Judge Releases Unverified Suicide Note Attributed to Jeffrey Epstein

A federal judge has released what is described as a suicide note written by Jeffrey Epstein, the financier who died in a Manhattan federal jail in August 2019 while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges. The handwritten note was made public on May 6, 2026. According to court records, Epstein's former cellmate said he discovered the note tucked inside a graphic novel. The note includes the phrase "time to say goodbye" and is described as barely legible in places. Neither the court nor news organizations have independently confirmed that Epstein wrote the note. The New York Times stated it has not authenticated the document. Epstein's death was ruled a suicide by hanging. However, his death has been the subject of persistent public skepticism, with some questioning whether he died by his own hand. Those doubts have fueled years of speculation and have kept the case in public focus long after his death. The release of the note is part of a broader effort to make Epstein-related materials available to the public. Federal authorities have been releasing documents connected to the case in stages. A Justice Department watchdog has also conducted an audit of how those files have been handled and released. Epstein had been charged with sex trafficking dozens of underage girls. His case implicated a wide network of powerful individuals, and victims have continued to speak publicly about the abuse they say they suffered. The note's release adds a new piece of information to a case that has remained deeply contested. Supporters of the suicide ruling say the note is consistent with that conclusion. Others who have questioned the official account are unlikely to view the document as settling the matter, given that its authenticity has not been independently verified. The documents released so far have drawn significant public attention, and further materials related to the Epstein investigation are expected to be made available in the coming weeks.