US TV host on Epstein's apparent suicide: 'How predictably...Russian'

In the wake of reports that Jeffrey Epstein committed suicide, MSNBC's Joe Scarborough tweeted: "Authorities couldn't keep Epstein alive by putting him under 24 hour surveillance? How convenient for a lot of rich and powerful men.

In another tweet, he wrote: "A guy who had information that would have destroyed rich and powerful men's lives ends up dead in his jail cell. How predictably... Russian."

Epstein, the financier who has long been dogged by accusations of sexual abuse of girls and was able to cultivate a stream of high profile friends despite his lurid lifestyle, killed himself in his Manhattan jail cell, official said on Saturday.

Scarborough had also retweeted other Epstein death skeptics such as creator of the show Billions Brian Koppelman.

Epstein, who was facing trial on child sex-trafficking charges, had reportedly been on suicide watch after he was found nearly unconscious in his cell with injuries to his neck two weeks ago.

His reported death came hours after a cache of legal papers linked to a defamation case involving Epstein were unsealed by a US judge.

In the legal documents, released on Friday, a young woman called Johanna Sjoberg alleged that Prince Andrew, a former friend of the disgraced financier, touched her breast while sitting on a couch inside the billionaire's Manhattan apartment in 2001.

Buckingham Palace said the allegations are "categorically untrue".

Epstein, 66, admitted prostituting minors in 2008 and spent 18 months in prison.

He was facing fresh charges of sex trafficking and conspiracy with a possible jail sentence of up to 45 years.

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