Ocasio-Cortez After Jeffrey Epstein Found Dead: "We Need Answers. Lots of Them." by Jon Queally!
(2019-08-12 at 22:48:16 )

Ocasio-Cortez After Jeffrey Epstein Found Dead: "We Need Answers. Lots of Them." by Jon Queally

"I do not dabble much in conspiracy theories," said another observer in the wake of the news, "but..."

United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York Geoffrey Berman announces charges against Jeffery Epstein on July 8, 2019 in New York City. Mr. Epstein will be charged with one count of sex trafficking of minors and one count of conspiracy to engage in sex trafficking of minors. Mr. Epstein was found dead in his Manhattan jail cell on Saturday August 10, 2019 from what officials say was suicide by hanging.

In the immediate wake of news from New York City officials Saturday morning that disgraced billionaire and high-profile political donor Jeffrey Epstein committed suicide in his Manhattan jail cell overnight, Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez indicated it will be up to lawmakers and others to demand a full accounting of what happened to the man accused of operating a sophisticated sex trafficking ring that catered to the nations rich and powerful.

"We need answers," Ocasio-Cortez tweeted. "Lots of them."

Shortly after her tweet, Ms Ocasio-Cortez re-tweeted a comment by former prosecutor and CNN legal analyst Renato Mariotti-an indication of some of her concerns.

" Mr Epsteins suicide," noted Mariotti, "ends the criminal case against him because no one else was charged in the indictment."

With many high-powered men-including President Donald Trump, former president Bill Clinton, Prince Andrew of the United Kingdom, and Harvard attorney Alan Dershowitz-implicated or accused over the years of having ties to Mr. Epstein, attending his parties, or even participating in his alleged sex trafficking ring, news of his death immediately sparked conspiracy theories about his demise.

Questions surrounding both the manner of Mr. Epsteins death and the looming questions about the reach of his alleged sex trafficking operation immediately swirled as the news of the apparent suicide broke.

Even those wary of conspiracy theories, however, could not help but note the troubling implications of Mr. Epsteins death-especially given reports of a previous suicide attempt and that he had been placed on suicide watch at the jail.

Reprinted here from "Common Dreams" has been providing breaking news & views for the progressive community since 1997. We are independent, non-profit, advertising-free and 100% reader supported.