Tova Noel, a former prison guard at the Metropolitan Correctional Center in New York, has been called to testify before the House Oversight Committee as part of a broader investigation into the circumstances surrounding the death of financier Jeffrey Epstein. The hearing, scheduled for 26 March, follows allegations that Noel failed to conduct mandatory cell checks on Epstein and conducted Google searches about him shortly before his body was discovered on 10 August 2019.

Missed Checks and Altered Records

Epstein, who was facing federal child sex trafficking charges, was found dead in his cell at the Metropolitan Correctional Center on 10 August 2019. According to court documents, Tova Noel and her fellow officer Michael Thomas were assigned to monitor Epstein but allegedly failed to conduct the required security checks. Both officers were accused of falsifying records to cover up the missed rounds. Although criminal charges were later dropped, both were fired from their positions.

An inmate housed in the Special Housing Unit recalled overhearing officers discussing Epstein’s death in the early hours of 10 August. The FBI report cited by the Miami Herald details the inmate’s account of a guard saying, ‘Dudes, you killed that dude,’ followed by a female officer stating, ‘If he is dead, we’re going to cover it up and he’s going to have an alibi, my officers.’ The female officer later identified as Noel was reportedly involved in the cover-up.

Court documents and the FBI report indicate that Noel conducted Google searches for ‘latest on Epstein in jail’ twice on the morning of 10 August 2019, approximately 40 minutes before Epstein’s body was discovered. The timing of these searches has raised questions about her awareness of the situation and potential involvement in any cover-up.

Suspicious Financial Activity

Bank records released as part of the Epstein Files have drawn attention to a $5,000 cash deposit into Noel’s account on 30 July 2019. Other large cash and Zelle transfers were also made in the months leading up to Epstein’s death. These financial transactions have been highlighted in public reporting, though Noel has not been charged with any criminal wrongdoing.

Epstein’s former cellmate, Efrain Reyes, told prison officials that Epstein had made payments for protection, including to guards. Noel’s financial activity, including payments for a new Range Rover, has been scrutinized in light of these claims. However, officials have not found evidence of criminal activity directly linking her to Epstein’s death.

Dr. Michael Baden, a forensic pathologist retained by Epstein’s estate, reported that Epstein sustained fractures to multiple bones in the larynx and haemorrhages in the eyes, injuries more commonly associated with strangulation than hanging. However, the New York Medical Examiner and the US Department of Justice concluded that Epstein died by suicide. DOJ investigations noted that no credible information from inmates suggested a cause of death other than suicide.

Broader Congressional Inquiry

The House Oversight Committee has also deposed high-profile figures, including Bill and Hillary Clinton and Les Wexner, and recently subpoenaed Attorney General Pam Bondi. The Epstein Files Transparency Act prompted the Department of Justice to release millions of documents, though the handling of redactions has drawn bipartisan criticism. Lawmakers have highlighted concerns that the identities of victims were exposed while information about influential alleged co-conspirators was heavily redacted.

Tova Noel was a correctional officer assigned to the Special Housing Unit at the Metropolitan Correctional Center during Epstein’s detention. She has been implicated in failing to complete mandatory security checks, conducting searches related to Epstein on the morning of his death, and receiving significant cash deposits before the event. Despite these allegations, she has not faced criminal charges but is required to provide testimony to Congress as part of the ongoing investigation into Epstein’s death.

Chair of the committee, James Comer, R-Ky., issued a letter to Noel on 14 March, requesting her deposition on 26 March. The letter cites documents obtained by the committee and public reporting as evidence that Noel may have information relevant to the investigation into Epstein, his associates, and the circumstances surrounding his death.

The investigation into Epstein’s death has raised significant questions about the security and transparency of the Metropolitan Correctional Center. The scrutiny of Tova Noel’s role, combined with the release of documents and financial records, has brought renewed attention to the events leading up to Epstein’s death. The outcome of her testimony may provide further clarity into the circumstances of his death and the actions of those involved.