The warden of the federal jail in New York City where wealthy financier Jeffrey Epstein killed himself was replaced Tuesday on orders of Attorney General William Barr pending investigations into the incident, the Justice Department said.
The U.S. Bureau of Prisons also placed two staffers at the Metropolitan Correctional Center who had been assigned to Epstein’s cell unit on administrative leave as probes into the death of the accused child sex trafficker continue.
“Additional actions may be taken as the circumstances warrant,” said Justice Department spokeswoman Kerri Kupec.
Lamine N’Diaye is being replaced at MCC by acting warden James Petrucci, who had been warden of the federal prison in Otisville, New York.
N’Diaye has been transferred to the Bureau of Prison’s Northeast Regional Office. He had been warden at MCC since May 2018.
A lawyer for Epstein, who was a former friend of Presidents Donald Trump and Bill Clinton, did not immediately respond to CNBC’s request for comment.
The Bureau of Prisons also did not respond for a request for comment.
The death of Epstein on Saturday morning infuriated Barr, members of Congress, Epstein’s defense lawyers and attorneys for women who have claimed they were sexually abused as underage girls by Epstein at his properties in Manhattan and Palm Beach, Florida.
The FBI and the inspector general of the Justice Department now are investigating the incident.