Jail guard on duty when Epstein died asked to testify before US House panel; here's why

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - FEBRUARY 13: In this photo illustration, Jeffrey Epstein's signature on a will, part of the Epstein files released by the Department of Justice (DOJ), is shown on February 13, 2026 in Chicago, Illinois.

The US House Oversight Committee has summoned former prison guard Tova Noel for an interview about Jeffrey Epstein's 2019 jail death, as part of ongoing investigations into Epstein's sex trafficking network and calls for greater transparency.

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The US House Oversight Committee has asked a prison guard who was on duty the night convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein died in jail to appear for a transcribed interview later this month.

According to a report by Axios, Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer has requested that former correctional officer Tova Noel testify before the panel on March 26. The move is part of the committee’s ongoing investigation into the circumstances surrounding Epstein’s death and his wider sex trafficking network.

The probe has already involved depositions from several prominent figures who had past links to Epstein, including former US President Bill Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.

Investigation and the Epstein files

The renewed scrutiny comes after the United States Justice Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation concluded an earlier probe into Epstein’s death and alleged connections to powerful individuals.

Last year, both agencies said they had found no evidence that Epstein blackmailed influential figures, maintained a “client list” connected to his trafficking activities, or was murdered while in custody.

Despite those findings, lawmakers have continued to push for greater transparency around the case.

Republican Representative Thomas Massie and Democratic Representative Ro Khanna introduced the Epstein Files Transparency Act, a measure aimed at releasing millions of documents related to the investigation into Epstein’s trafficking network.

Guards under scrutiny

Noel and another guard on duty the night Epstein died have previously faced scrutiny over their conduct during the incident.

According to the Axios report, the two guards were accused of failing to perform required checks on Epstein and were instead sleeping and browsing the internet during their shift.

Epstein died in August 2019 at the Metropolitan Correctional Center in New York while awaiting trial on federal charges related to sex trafficking of minors.

He had earlier been convicted in 2008 for soliciting a minor but continued to maintain connections with numerous powerful figures in politics, business and entertainment.

Maxwell questions suicide ruling

Epstein’s death was ruled a suicide by authorities, but the case has continued to fuel speculation and controversy.

Ghislaine Maxwell, Epstein’s former associate and partner who is currently serving a prison sentence for her role in his trafficking operation, told the Justice Department in an interview last year that she does not believe the official explanation.

“I do not believe he died by suicide, no,” Maxwell said in an interview with Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche.

The House Oversight Committee’s latest move signals that lawmakers are still seeking answers about Epstein’s death and the broader network of individuals connected to his crimes.