NEW YORK (AP) - Financier Jeffrey Epstein died by suicide while awaiting trialon sex-trafficking charges in New York, a former law enforcement official saidSaturday. He was found in his cell at the Manhattan Correctional Center Saturday morning,according to the officials, who was briefed on the matter but spoke on conditionof anonymity because he wasn't authorized to discuss it publicly. The medicalexaminer's office in Manhattan confirmed Epstein's death. Epstein's arrest last month launched separate investigations into howauthorities handled his case initially when similar charges were first broughtagainst him in Florida more than a decade ago. U.S. Labor Secretary AlexanderAcosta resigned last month after coming under fire for overseeing that deal whenhe was U.S. attorney in Miami. The 66-year-old had pleaded not guilty and was facing up to 45 years in prisonif convicted. A little over two weeks, Epstein was found on the floor of his jail cell withbruises on his neck early, according to a person familiar with the matter whospoke on condition of anonymity. At the time, it was not clear whether theinjuries were self-inflicted or from an assault. Epstein's arrest drew national attention, particularly focusing on a deal thatallowed Epstein to plead guilty in 2008 to soliciting a minor for prostitutionin Florida and avoid more serious federal charges. Federal prosecutors in New York reopened the probe after investigativereporting by The Miami Herald stirred outrage over that plea bargain. But his lawyers maintained that the new charges brought by federal prosecutorsin New York were covered by the deal and were improper. They said he hasn't had any illicit contact with underage girls since servinghis 13-month sentence in Florida. Before his legal troubles, Epstein led a life of extraordinary luxury that drewpowerful people into his orbit. He socialized with princes and presidents and lived on a 100-acre privateisland in the Caribbean and one of the biggest mansions in New York. A collegedropout, he became a sought-after benefactor of professors and scientists,donating millions of dollars in donations to Harvard University and othercauses. Still, it was never entirely clear how the middle-class Brooklyn math whizbecame a Wall Street master of high finance.
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