From:	OCA
Sent:	Tuesday, August 13, 2019 11:01 AM
To:
Subject:	FW: Congressional Correspondence: Rep. Nydia Velazquez (NY-07)
Attachments:	Velazquez Letter to BOP and FBI on MCC Epstein.pdf

TRIM entry. From: Martinez, Jonathan [mailto:Jonathan.Martinez@mail.house.gov] **Sent:** Tuesday, August 13, 2019 10:20 AM ## To: Cc: Pelletier, Justin Subject: Congressional Correspondence: Rep. Nydia Velazquez (NY-07) Good morning: Please see the attached congressional correspondence sent from Congresswoman Nydia Velázquez (NY-07) on the recent death of Mr. Jeffrey Epstein. The correspondence requests that any investigation also examine any leadership issues and structural/cultural mismanagement at the MCC facility. Thank you, Jonathan Jonathan E. Martínez Senior Legislative Assistant Congresswoman Nydia M. Velázquez (NY-07) 2302 Rayburn House Office Building Tel: (202) 225-2361 Jonathan.Martinez@mail.house.gov 1 EFTA00175117 COMMITTEE ON SMALL BUSINESS CHAIRWOMAN COMMITTEE ON FINANCIAL SERVICES SUBCOMMITTEE ON HOUSING AND INSURANCE SUBCOMMITTEE ON FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS AND CONSUMER CREDIT # Congress of the United States House of Representatives Washington, DC 20515

CONGRESSIONAL HISPANIC CAUCUS

CONGRESSIONAL CAUCUS FOR WOMEN'S ISSUES

CONGRESSIONAL PROGRESSIVE CAUCUS

NYDIA M. VELAZQUEZ 7TH DISTRICT, NEW YORK CONGRESSIONAL CHILDREN'S CAUCUS CONGRESSIONAL ASIAN PACIFIC AMERICAN CAUCUS August 13, 2019 Michael E. Horowitz Inspector General Department of Justice 950 Pennsylvania Avenue NW Washington, DC 20530 Christopher A. Wray Director Federal Bureau of Investigation 935 Pennsylvania Avenue NW Washington, DC 20535 Dear Inspector General Horowitz and Director Wray: As the Member of Congress with the Metropolitan Correctional Center (MCC) in my district, I write to voice concerns about the continued alleged culture of mismanagement and inadequate leadership at this facility. Circumstances surrounding the recent suicide of Jeffrey Epstein while he was in federal custody draw light to other problems that have been previously documented at the detention facility. I suspect current events at MCC are symptomatic of larger issues afflicting the facility's professional culture, as suggested by a list of previous disconcerting events. For example: - A lieutenant physically abused a detainee, resulting in fractures to the detainee's eye socket and checkbone; $ ^{1} $ - A correction officer was sentenced to 7 years in prison after being convicted of raping a female detainee; $ ^{2} $ - An officer has been formally charged for sexually abusing female detainees in exchange for personal hygiene products, food and other items. $ ^{3} $ - Officers attempted to “cover up” the death of Roberto Grant by claiming the prisoner’s cause of death was a drug overdose when a city coroner determined the cause to be blunt force trauma. $ ^{4} $ Given his notoriety, I understand that your respective agencies will investigate the events leading to the death of Mr. Epstein. This review is wholly appropriate, and I thank you for conducting it. 1 Metro Briefing | New York: Manhattan: Guard Admits Beating. Preston, J. The New-York Times. May 3, 2005. http://www.metimes.com/2005/05/03/metrorriefing-new-york-manhattan-admits-beating/ ² Ex-correction Officer Sentenced for Raping Inmate. Eustachewich, L. New York Post. May 4, 2016. https://nypost.com/2016/05/04/ex-correction-officer-sentenced-for-raping-inmate/ ³ Federal Prison Guard Charged With Sexually Abusing Inmates, Trading Sex for Makeup and Food. NBC New York. May 21, 2019. https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/Federal-Prison-Guard-Sex-Contraband-51022012.html 4 Manhattan Jail Staffers Blamed OD for Inmate’s Death in Coverup Try: $20M Suit. Beklempis, V. New York Daily News. September 7, 2017. https://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/manhattan/jail-staffers-blamed-od-inmate-death-coverup-suit-article-1.3476132 2302 RAYBURN HOUSE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON, DC 20515 (202) 225-2351 268 BROADWAY SURTE 201 BROOKLYN, NY 11211 (718) 599-3658 | **500 PEARL STREET** | | | :--- | :--- | | **SUITE 973** | | | **NEW YORK, NY 10007** | | | **[212) 619-2808]** | | EFTA00175118 However, I urge you to expand the scope of your inquiry to scrutinize the current professional culture at this facility. Such review should also examine the continued use of augmentation policy at this facility given recent reports suggesting one non-correctional staff member was partially responsible for Mr. Epstein's safety in the Special Housing Unit (SHU). $ ^{5} $ It is vital that we continue ensuring the victims of Mr. Epstein's deeds receive the justice they deserve, including a full accounting of Mr. Epstein's death under federal custody. Likewise, it is important that broader management problems pervading MCC, which may have enabled Mr. Epstein's suicide, be examined, rooted out and corrected. Thank you for your attention to these concerns. Should you or your staff have any questions regarding this request, please do not hesitate to contact my Washington office at 202-225-2361. Sincerely, Nydia Velíza Nydia M. Velázquez Member of Congress 5 In Short-Staffed Jail, Epstein Was Left Alone for Hours; Guard Was Substitute. Watkins, A; Benner, K; Ivory, D. The New York Times. August 12, 2019. https://www.nytimes.com/2019/08/12/nyregion/epstein-bar.html. EFTA00175119