Jeffrey Epstein: Death in the prison cell

The official statement was extremely close. Under the headline "Death of an inmate" followed by a few dry sentences: A New York prisoner named Jeffrey Epstein was found around 6.30 clock early lifeless in his cell, taken to the hospital and declared dead there. "The FBI investigates."

With this statement of prison prision, the Epstein case became even more obscure: Epstein - a pre-fined ex-financier who interacted with celebrities and presidents - died behind bars on Saturday while waiting for his sensation trial over sex trafficking and sexual abuse of underage girls. The 66-year-old threatened 45 years in prison. It will not come to this process anymore, that's for sure. Everything else seems uncertain.

According to US Attorney General Bill Barr, the life of America's most high-profile inmate detainee ended in suicide at the Metropolitan Correctional Center (MCC), a notorious prison in lower Manhattan. Barr, shocked, announced an investigation. Epstein's death "raises serious questions that need to be answered". The first emergency call had reached the fire department at 6:39.

Watching Epstein's suicidal attack set in late July

Epstein had been housed in a special MCC wing for well-known and particularly vulnerable defendants. The boss of the cartel Joaquín Guzmán ("El Chapo") had also been sitting here recently. Guzmán and other prisoners had complained of horrendous conditions there, which were "worse than in Guantanamo".

After a first alleged suicide attempt three weeks ago, Epstein had been under surveillance around the clock. However, this control was terminated on July 29, reported several US media. Why, remained unclear. The news agency AP reported that this decision was only possible if the prison head and senior psychologist agreed to the facility.

This is another reason why there are doubts about the official presentation. Epstein's connections were so far-reaching and the circumstances of his death seem so puzzling that wild speculation immediately began, fueled by leftists, rightists - and the man with the loudest megaphone, President Donald Trump: He encouraged a conspiracy theory by retweeting that Epstein had been murdered - on behalf of the Clintons, about whom Epstein knew too much.

Marco Bello / REUTERS

Little St. James Island in the Caribbean: Epstein's Private Island

Trump and Bill Clinton formerly belonged to the circle around Epstein. He hosted his guests in villas in New York, Florida, and the Caribbean, as well as aboard his private jets, one of which was unofficially called "Lolita Express."

The New York Justice had indicted Epstein in July for sexual abuse of dozens of 14-year-old girls. Similar allegations had brought Epstein already in 2008 in prison, but he had to serve just under a year in prison.

Investigators assume accomplices and accomplices

The then US Attorney Alexander Acosta justified this with the pressure of higher places for which Epstein had been important. Acosta later rose under Trump to US Labor Secretary, but then rushed over his involvement in the affair.

The process explodes with Epstein's death, but not the whole case. In the indictment, the judiciary speaks of unnamed accomplices and confidants of Epstein. Prosecutor Geoffrey Berman said on Saturday that the investigation was continuing as regards the crime of conspiracy. Epstein's alleged suicide was "disturbing," but they would continue to ensure that justice was done to their victims.

Jeenah Moon / REUTERS

Hospital in Manhattan: Here Epstein was declared dead

Even the star lawyer Lisa Bloom, who represents several suspected victims of Epstein, announced that the civil lawsuits would continue to make amends - only now against Epstein's administrator: "We are just beginning."

On Friday - not even 24 hours before Epstein's death - a court had published documents that charged Epstein and several celebrities. In it, a woman claimed that Epstein forced her as a minor to intercourse with his friends. Similarly, the same woman had previously accused Bill Clinton, British Prince Andrew and lawyer Alan Dershowitz. Everyone has denied the allegations.

"We need answers"

Trump was also good friends with Epstein, in Epstein's address book were once 14 phone numbers Trumps. Their relationship broke, however, according to the "Washington Post" in 2004 because of a real estate deal: Trump grabbed a villa in Florida Epstein from the nose away and sold them later with great profit to a Russian businessman.

"I was not a fan of him, I can tell you that," said Trump to journalists the day after Epstein's arrest. Now Trump fumbled rumors about a suspected murder plot. The president, who is on a ten-day "work holiday" in New Jersey, recommended to his 63 million Twitter fans a commentator's claim that Epstein's suicide was questionable: "Epstein had information about Bill Clinton," he wrote. "And now he is dead." Lynne Patton, a longtime Trump confidant, spread similar conspiracy theories against the Clintons via Instagram.

But not only conservatives tried to capitalize on Epstein's death. "We need answers," wrote Democratic Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.