United States: The Death of Millionaire Epstein, the 45-Year-Old Sentence and the Fury of the Secretary of Justice

Jeffrey Epstein died on Saturday while he was about to be tried in New York for trafficking in people for badual purposes, federal authorities confirmed, adding that the FBI would investigate "apparent suicide" financial millionaire.

The US Prison Office said that Epstein was found unconscious in his cell at the Metropolitan Correctional Center around 6:30 am on Saturday. The coroner's office in Manhattan confirmed the death of the financier.

The authorities stated that the prison staff had tried to resuscitate him and that Epstein had been taken to a local hospital for treatment. He was pronounced dead at the hospital.

The secretary of justice, William Barr, said in a statement that he had learned "the stupor" of Epstein's suicide in a federal prison, which "raises serious questions that call for answers".

Barr ordered the Inspector General to open an investigation.

A person familiar with the case said that Barr was "furious" at the fact that Epstein was able to commit suicide.

The source spoke with The badociated press under condition of anonymity as it is a private conversation.

Last month, Epstein's arrest had opened two investigations into how the authorities had initially handled his case, while similar charges had been laid against him in Florida more than a decade ago.

US Secretary of Labor Alexander Acosta resigned last month after being criticized for overseeing this deal while he was federal prosecutor in Miami.

The 66-year-old man pleaded not guilty and was sentenced to up to 45 years in prison if found guilty.

The arrest caught the attention of national authorities, including an agreement allowing Epstein to plead guilty in 2008 to ask a minor to prostitute himself in Florida and to avoid more serious prosecutions against the federal government.

Federal prosecutors in New York reopened the investigation after the release of a report of the investigation of Miami Herald which provoked outrage as to how the guilty plea was negotiated.

However, his lawyers argued that the new charges filed by federal prosecutors in New York were covered by the agreement and were out of order.

They stated that their client had had no illicit contact with minor women since he had served their 13-month sentence in Florida.

A little over two weeks ago, Epstein was found on the floor of his cell with bruises on his neck, according to a person familiar with the case he spoke to. The badociated press provided that anonymity is preserved. At that time, it was unclear whether the injuries were self-inflicted or caused by an badault.

* AP