US: New York judge makes alleged Esptein suicide note public

Key Points:

• A US federal judge ordered the release of an alleged suicide note written by Jeffrey Epstein, found by his former jail cellmate Nicholas Tartaglione after Epstein's first suicide attempt in July 2019.
• The handwritten note, found in a graphic novel, expresses Epstein's frustration over investigations and hints at his decision to end his life; it is undated, unsigned, and does not bear his name.
• Judge Kenneth Karas ruled the note is a judicial document subject to public access and found no legal reason to keep it sealed, without confirming its authenticity.
• US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick testified before Congress about a 2012 visit to Epstein's private island, admitting he could not explain why he and his family had lunch there, despite previously stating he avoided Epstein after 2005.
• The House Oversight Committee continues to investigate Epstein's network, with Lutnick being the highest-ranking official besides President Trump named in the case files; lying to Congress could result in felony charges.