Ocasio-Cortez demands ‘answers’ after Epstein found dead in jail cell

New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D) led public calls Saturday demanding answers after disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein was found dead in his Manhattan jail cell due to an apparent suicide.

“We need answers. Lots of them,” Ocasio-Cortez, a member of the House Oversight and Reform Committee, tweeted. 

We need answers. Lots of them.https://t.co/4DMckiZnVB

— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) August 10, 2019

{mosads}Multiple media outlets reported Saturday that Epstein’s body was discovered in his jail cell about 7:30 a.m. at the Metropolitan Correctional Center (MCC).

Many immediately began questioning the details surrounding his death after Epstein was reportedly put on suicide watch in late July following a possible suicide attempt.

“He reportedly tried to kill himself two weeks ago. And is allowed to finish the job now? Bullshit,” MSNBC host Joe Scarborough tweeted.

He reportedly tried to kill himself two weeks ago. And is allowed to finish the job now? Bullshit.

— Joe Scarborough (@JoeNBC) August 10, 2019

The MCC did not immediately return requests for comment from The Hill on Saturday morning.

Epstein was in prison awaiting trial over charges of sex trafficking minors, to which he had pleaded not guilty.

His suicide comes a day after testimony was released from a woman who said she was one of his victims that unveiled the inner workings of his alleged operation.

Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.), who sits on the Judiciary Committee, called on the panel’s chairman Rep. Jerrold Nadler (D-N.Y.) to prioritize investigating the circumstances around Epstein’s death over other probes being carried out by the committee.

“Chairman @RepJerryNadler should prioritize a Judiciary investigation into how Jeffrey Epstein died in federal custody (in Nadler’s own neighborhood!) over the Kavanaugh confirmation (which already happened), and the Russia hoax (which never happened),” Gaetz tweeted.

I agree @AOC.

Chairman @RepJerryNadler should prioritize a Judiciary investigation into how Jeffrey Epstein died in federal custody (in Nadler’s own neighborhood!) over the Kavanaugh confirmation (which already happened), and the Russia hoax (which never happened).

— Rep. Matt Gaetz (@RepMattGaetz) August 10, 2019

Epstein served 13 months in jail about 10 years ago after reaching a deal with prosecutors that has been panned as too lenient. He was arrested in July and charged with trafficking underage girls from 2002 to 2005.

– John Bowden contributed reporting