What is document EFTA00021695?

This is an email chain from September 2019 between defense attorney Bruce Barket and an Assistant U.S. Attorney discussing scheduling for penalty phase pleadings in a federal death penalty case. Barket, acting as 'Learned Counsel,' is coordinating a meeting to present a proposed briefing schedule.

Who is Bruce Barket and why is he significant?

Bruce Barket is a founding partner of Barket Epstein Kearon Aldea & LoTurco, a Garden City, NY law firm (the 'Epstein' in the firm name refers to partner Steven Epstein, unrelated to Jeffrey Epstein). Barket represented Nicholas Tartaglione, the former police officer charged with quadruple murder who was briefly Jeffrey Epstein's cellmate at MCC Manhattan. Tartaglione was present when Epstein allegedly first attempted suicide in July 2019.

What does this document reveal?

The document reveals routine legal correspondence about scheduling penalty phase proceedings in a capital case. While not directly about Jeffrey Epstein, it connects to the Epstein case through Barket's representation of Tartaglione. The September 2019 timing—one month after Epstein's death—places it during a period when Tartaglione was a figure of interest in discussions about Epstein's death at MCC.

What is 'Learned Counsel' in this context?

In federal death penalty cases, 'Learned Counsel' refers to an attorney with specific qualifications and experience in capital cases who assists the defense team. This designation follows ABA Guidelines for representation in capital cases. In the Tartaglione case, Anthony Ricco initially served as Learned Counsel (appointed by the court), while Bruce Barket served as retained counsel.

What is document EFTA00021695?

This is an email chain from September 2019 between defense attorney Bruce Barket and an Assistant U.S. Attorney discussing scheduling for penalty phase pleadings in a federal death penalty case. Barket, acting as 'Learned Counsel,' is coordinating a meeting to present a proposed briefing schedule.

Who is Bruce Barket and why is he significant?

Bruce Barket is a founding partner of Barket Epstein Kearon Aldea & LoTurco, a Garden City, NY law firm (the 'Epstein' in the firm name refers to partner Steven Epstein, unrelated to Jeffrey Epstein). Barket represented Nicholas Tartaglione, the former police officer charged with quadruple murder who was briefly Jeffrey Epstein's cellmate at MCC Manhattan. Tartaglione was present when Epstein allegedly first attempted suicide in July 2019.

What does this document reveal?

The document reveals routine legal correspondence about scheduling penalty phase proceedings in a capital case. While not directly about Jeffrey Epstein, it connects to the Epstein case through Barket's representation of Tartaglione. The September 2019 timing—one month after Epstein's death—places it during a period when Tartaglione was a figure of interest in discussions about Epstein's death at MCC.

What is 'Learned Counsel' in this context?

In federal death penalty cases, 'Learned Counsel' refers to an attorney with specific qualifications and experience in capital cases who assists the defense team. This designation follows ABA Guidelines for representation in capital cases. In the Tartaglione case, Anthony Ricco initially served as Learned Counsel (appointed by the court), while Bruce Barket served as retained counsel.

EFTA00021695 - EFTA00021696

Email exchange between Bruce Barket, defense attorney for Nicholas Tartaglione (Jeffrey Epstein's former cellmate), and federal prosecutors scheduling a meeting to discuss penalty phase pleadings in Tartaglione's death penalty case.

This September 2019 email chain shows Bruce Barket of Barket Epstein Kearon Aldea & LoTurco coordinating with an Assistant U.S. Attorney to schedule a meeting about penalty phase briefing in a federal capital case. Barket references his role as 'Learned Counsel' and mentions submitting a proposed schedule for penalty phase pleadings per ABA Guidelines—standard procedure in federal death penalty cases. The timing (September 2019) places this approximately one month after Jeffrey Epstein's death at MCC Manhattan, where Barket's client Nicholas Tartaglione had briefly been Epstein's cellmate.

Key Highlights

•Bruce Barket identifies himself as 'Learned Counsel' working on penalty phase pleadings, indicating a federal death penalty case
•The scheduling discussion occurred in September 2019, shortly after Jeffrey Epstein's death at MCC Manhattan
•Barket represented Nicholas Tartaglione, the ex-police officer accused of quadruple murder who shared a cell with Epstein

Frequently Asked Questions

Books for Further Reading

Perversion of Justice: The Jeffrey Epstein Story

Julie K. Brown

Investigative journalism that broke the Epstein case open

Filthy Rich: The Jeffrey Epstein Story

James Patterson

Bestselling account of Epstein's crimes and network

Relentless Pursuit: My Fight for the Victims of Jeffrey Epstein

Bradley J. Edwards

Victims' attorney's firsthand account

Document Information

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EFTA00021695 - EFTA00021696

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Document Content

Page 1 - EFTA00021695

From: Bruce Barket To: Cc: Subject: Re: proposed schedule. Date: Sat, 21 Sep 2019 17:58:44 +0000 I can make 12:00 1:00 or 4:00 Bruce Barket Barket, Epstein, Kearon, Aldea & LoTurco 666 Old Country road Garden City, NY 11530 Barket Epstein.com On Sep 21, 2019, at 9:33 AM, We are free Thursday afternoon except from 2:45 - 4. Assistant U.S. Attorney On Sep 21, 2019, at 07:22, wrote: wrote: Any day next week works for me. Also in my role as Learned Counsel, and in full compliance with the ABA Guidelines, I will be submitting a proposed schedule for penalty phase pleadings over the weekend. Thanks Tonyricco --Ori inal Mess e-- From: To: Bruce Barke Cc: Sent: Fri, Sep 20, 2019 9:15 pm Subject: Re: proposed schedule. We are free next Friday afternoon if that works for you all. Assistant U.S. Attorney EFTA00021695

Page 2 - EFTA00021696

On Sep 20, 2019, at 12:16, Bruce Barket wrote: I think we will be ready to propose a schedule sometime early next week. Is there a day and time when you can meet to discuss? We will send you a proposed briefing schedule ahead of the meeting. I hope to have ours finalized no later than Tuesday. Bruce A. Barket, Esq. Barket Epstein Kearon Aldea & LoTurco, LLP 666 Old Country Road , Ste. 700 Garden City, NY 11530 www.barketepstein.com This transmittal may be a confidential attorney client communication or may otherwise be privileged or confidential. If it is not clear that you are the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that you have received this transmittal in error; any review, dissemination, distribution or copying of this transmittal is strictly prohibited. If you suspect that you have received this communication in error, please notify us immediately by telephone or email and immediately delete this message and all its attachments EFTA00021696