In a recent revelation, Nicholas Tartaglione, the former cellmate of Jeffrey Epstein at the Metropolitan Correctional Center in Manhattan, has made a serious allegation through a 21-page pardon petition. Tartaglione, a former New York police officer facing charges of quadruple murder, claimed that there was a deliberate decision by authorities to leave Epstein unprotected in jail, thereby putting both of their lives at risk. This accusation has brought the circumstances surrounding Epstein's death back into public scrutiny.
"I clearly was not protected on purpose, nor was Epstein. I truly believe that the government wanted both Epstein and me dead," Tartaglione wrote in his pardon petition.
The petition, which was obtained by the Daily Mail, suggests that the decision to house Epstein with Tartaglione, who has a violent history and a known disdain for sex offenders, was more than just a questionable judgment call. Tartaglione claims that the lack of protection was a calculated move, stating, "I clearly was not protected on purpose, nor was Epstein. I truly believe that the government wanted both Epstein and me dead."
Following Epstein's death, which occurred on August 10, 2019, and was officially ruled a suicide by hanging, Tartaglione reported that he was transferred to the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn. There, he alleges, he was the victim of violent assaults by other inmates, including being beaten with a lead pipe. Tartaglione posits that these attacks were allowed to occur intentionally.
Epstein had accused Tartaglione of attempting to strangle him weeks before his eventual death, a claim that was later rescinded by Epstein who then stated he could not recall the incident. Tartaglione has denied assaulting Epstein and asserts that he attempted to save Epstein upon finding him semi-conscious with a string around his neck.
The petition also touches on prosecutorial conduct, accusing Assistant U.S. Attorney Maurene Comey of targeting Tartaglione and attempting to coerce Epstein into implicating President Donald Trump in Epstein's crimes. Epstein reportedly informed Tartaglione of prosecutors suggesting that he could secure his release if he implicated the President. President Trump has consistently denied any involvement in Epstein's criminal activities and has publicly distanced himself from the financier.
The administration, when approached by the Daily Mail regarding the pardon petition, indicated that anyone can submit such a document and that they were not aware of Tartaglione's filing. The fresh claims have emerged alongside new releases of DOJ files that have rekindled doubts about the official cause of Epstein's death. Notably, investigators pointed out that surveillance footage from the night of Epstein's death seemed to capture an orange figure moving toward Epstein's cell tier, contradicting previous accounts. Additionally, two cameras outside Epstein's cell malfunctioned that night, and an official time of death has not been established.
The decision to house Epstein with Tartaglione, the malfunctioning cameras, and the varying reports have perpetuated conspiracy theories for years. Tartaglione's recent statements now add to the narrative that these failures were not mere incompetence but intentional actions. Federal authorities have yet to directly respond to the claims made in Tartaglione's pardon request. As new documents and allegations surface, the mystery surrounding Epstein's final hours only deepens.
