Tova Noel to Testify on Jeffrey Epstein Case
Tova Noel, a former guard at the prison where Jeffrey Epstein died, will testify in a closed-door deposition before the House Oversight Committee on Monday. Noel was on duty with another guard on August 9, 2019, the night before Epstein was discovered dead in his cell. She previously informed federal investigators that she was likely the last person to see Epstein alive. New York City’s medical examiner deemed Epstein’s death a suicide, but questions have arisen due to reported missteps by prison staff and discrepancies in security footage outside Epstein’s cell. These issues have spurred conspiracy theories about his death.
The committee’s investigation targets the federal government’s handling of Epstein’s case and that of his associate Ghislaine Maxwell. Documents, pictures, and emails involving influential individuals from politics, finance, and entertainment have been exposed from the Epstein files by the Department of Justice. Inclusion in the files does not imply misconduct, but it has led to resignations and demands for accountability. Other notable individuals who have testified include Bill Clinton, Hillary Clinton, Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick, billionaire Les Wexner, and Maxwell’s former boyfriend Ted Waitt.
Who is Tova Noel?
Noel served as a correctional officer at New York’s Metropolitan Correctional Center. Previously, she worked as a patient administrative specialist in the U.S. Army, being honorably discharged in 2014. She earned her bachelor’s degree from the John Jay College of Criminal Justice in 2017 and joined the federal Bureau of Prisons the next year.
Why does the committee want to talk to Noel?
In 2019, Tova Noel faced charges in federal court for falsely certifying inmate counts during Epstein’s final hours. During her 2021 testimony to the Department of Justice inspector general, Noel stated she might have been the last to see Epstein alive around 10 p.m. and was present when his body was discovered at 6:30 a.m. the next day. She recounted witnessing fellow officer Michael Thomas perform CPR.
Noel testified she did not hear any noise from Epstein’s cell between 10:30 p.m. and the following morning when another guard found him unresponsive. Both Noel and Thomas were indicted in 2019 for falsifying prison records by marking incomplete prisoner check-ins. Although checks are mandated every 30 minutes in the MCC’s Special Housing Unit, investigators found none occurred overnight. Noel countered that she conducted most checks while performing routine tasks.
Both were accused of sleeping and using the internet before Epstein was found. Through a plea deal requiring community service and cooperation, Noel and Thomas avoided jail time. Noel denied sleeping but admitted using the internet without certainty of authorization.
Noel’s Connection to Epstein
During her deposition, Noel disclosed she interacted with Epstein just once that day, instructing him to remain in the shower cell until others left. She considered the exchange routine. Around 10 p.m., Noel did a count and Epstein asked her to plug in his CPAP machine, used to treat sleep apnea. She complied and noted exceptions were made for Epstein, as typically, such machines are not permitted. Noel stated she was never instructed to monitor Epstein more closely despite his high-profile status.
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