EFTA00030610
A September 2019 letter from the U.S. Attorney's Office (SDNY) to the NYC Medical Examiner's Office requesting that Epstein's autopsy report be redacted before any public disclosure, citing the need to protect the integrity of the ongoing federal investigation.
This is an official letter dated September 9, 2019, from U.S. Attorney Geoffrey S. Berman's office to Florence Hutner, General Counsel of the NYC Office of the Chief Medical Examiner (OCME). The letter follows up on an August 28, 2019 request asking OCME to withhold certain documents and information related to Jeffrey Epstein's autopsy from third parties. Specifically, the DOJ requested redactions of any documents or information provided by the USAO, FBI, or Metropolitan Correctional Center, as well as the identities and statements of federal law enforcement agents interviewed by OCME. The attached redacted autopsy file was prepared to protect the ongoing investigation into Epstein's death and any co-conspirators.
Key Highlights
- •DOJ explicitly requested OCME withhold the autopsy report and related materials from public disclosure
- •Redactions targeted FBI/DOJ-provided materials and federal law enforcement identities
- •The letter itself was requested to be kept confidential to preserve investigation integrity
- •This explains why the full autopsy report was not immediately released to the public after Epstein's August 10, 2019 death
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EFTA00030610
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U.S. Department of Justice United States Attorney Southern District of New York September 9, 2019 Florence Hutner, Esq. General Counsel Office of the Chief Medical Examiner Re: Autopsy Report and File for Jeffrey Epstein Dear Ms. Hutner: By letter dated August 28, 2019, the United States Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York ("USAO") requested that the OCME withhold from disclosure to any third party (i) "any documents, evidence or information made available to OCME by the USAO or the FBI—including documents, records, or materials from the MCC—or created by OCME or within the OCME case file that include, reflect, or contain information made available to OCME by the USAO or FBI"; and (ii) "the names and identifying information of any federal law enforcement agents or employees who were interviewed by the OCME, along with the substance of any statements or interviews made by those agents or employees" (the "August 28 Letter"). At OCME's request, the USAO has made proposed redactions to the version of the OCME report and file for Jeffrey Epstein that was previously provided by OCME to the FBI, consistent with the requests set forth in the August 28 Letter. That redacted document is attached hereto. In order to preserve the integrity of the ongoing investigation, in addition to the requests set forth in the August 28 Letter, we also request that OCME withhold from disclosure to any third party this letter and its attachment, and the August 28 Letter. We appreciate your willingness to comply with these requests. Please contact us with any further questions. Very truly yours, GEOFFREY S. BERMAN United States Attorney by: Is/ Assistant United States Attorneys End. EFTA00030610
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