<div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/jeffrey-epstein-not-running-sex-trafficking-ring-for-powerful-men-fbi-says/76bd71d2-d8db-409a-b732-57d0c8ba577c" rel="" target="" title="The Department of Justice"><span>The Department of Justice</span></a><span> is facing questions about why a statement about </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/jeffrey-epstein" rel="" target="" title="Jeffrey Epstein"><span>Jeffrey Epstein</span></a><span>'s death was dated before his apparent suicide.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The press release was dated August 9, 2019, when </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/jeffrey-epstein-dead-report/0e352e31-c5c7-45ff-8522-f0bfd88be448" rel="" target="" title="Epstein was found dead on August 10"><span>Epstein was found dead on August 10</span></a><span>.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>It was subsequently released in the Epstein files release.</span></div></div><div><div id="adspot-mobile-medium"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/trump-told-police-in-mid-2000s-everyone-has-known-about-epsteins-misconduct/bac5dfc1-d0d4-4c62-9504-86d8bc92e0b8"><strong><span>Trump told police in mid-2000s 'everyone has known' about Epstein</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Earlier this morning, the Manhattan Correctional Centre confirmed that Jeffrey Epstein, who faced charges brought by this Office of engaging in the sex trafficking of minors, had been found unresponsive in his cell and pronounced dead shortly thereafter," the draft statement from Southern District of New York US Attorney Geoffrey Berman read.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The Southern District of New York covers Manhattan, where Epstein was being held at the time of his death.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The department told the BBC the date was merely a typo.</span></div></div><div><div class="OUTBRAIN" data-reactroot="" data-src="//www.9news.com.au/world/jeffrey-epstein-suicide-death-statement-us-attorney-geoffrey-berman-usa-news/013128b4-3299-4b80-8c98-ca7657b85fa2" data-widget-id="AR_5"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The statement officially released on the day of Epstein's death was very similar to the draft.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Today's events are disturbing, and we are deeply aware of their potential to present yet another hurdle to giving Epstein's many victims their day in Court," Berman's statement read. </span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"To those brave young women who have already come forward and to the many others who have yet to do so, let me reiterate that we remain committed to standing for you, and our investigation of the conduct charged in the indictment – which included a conspiracy count – remains ongoing."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/ghislaine-maxwell-donald-trump-clemency-testimony-congress-howard-lutnick-usa-politics-news/d2e0f01b-45e5-48b4-a22e-4b832c8dc95f"><strong><span>Ghislaine Maxwell offers to exonerate Trump if she's let out of prison</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Berman had been appointed to the position by the Trump administration but </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/donald-trump" rel="" target="" title="sacked at Trump's request in 2020"><span>sacked at Trump's request in 2020</span></a><span>.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Officials say </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/jeffrey-epstein-death-perfect-storm-of-screw-ups/99a23635-a73b-424d-9afa-757594f71b90" rel="" target="" title="Epstein committed suicide in his cell overnight"><span>Epstein committed suicide in his cell overnight</span></a><span> before his body was found at 6.30am on August 10 by a corrections officer delivering his breakfast.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>No time of death has been determined.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The findings of suicide from the New York City Chief Medical Examiner have been highly scrutinised and criticised.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>But despite countless claims of foul play, no evidence has disproven the conclusion that Epstein took his own life.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Millions of documents have been released in recent weeks connected to the investigation of the notorious sex trafficker.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/bill-clinton-hillary-clinton-jeffrey-epstein-files-testify-congress-house-oversight-usa-news/759f2255-ba69-4397-82c3-ab8af43d5bb2"><strong><span>Clintons make a deal that could keep them out of prison</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>If you or someone you know is in need of support contact Lifeline on 13 11 14 or Beyond Blue. In the event of an emergency dial Triple Zero (000).</span></strong></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><em><span>NEVER MISS A STORY:</span></em></strong><span> </span><em><span>Get your breaking news and exclusive stories first by following us across all platforms.</span></em></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><ul><li><strong><em><span>Download the 9NEWS App here via</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="https://apps.apple.com/au/app/9news/id1010533727" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>Apple</span></em></strong></a><span> </span><strong><em><span>and</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=nineNewsAlerts.nine.com&amp;hl=en_AU&amp;pli=1" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>Google Play</span></em></strong></a></li><li><strong><em><span>Make 9News your preferred source on Google by</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="https://9.nine.com.au/8x987w" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>ticking this box here</span></em></strong></a></li><li><strong><em><span>Sign up to</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="https://login.nine.com.au/edm?client_id=nineatnine" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>our breaking newsletter here</span></em></strong></a></li></ul></div></div>