The FBI has launched an investigation into the apparent suicide of billionaire and alleged sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein, the agency said in a press release Saturday.





Epstein, who was awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges, reportedly hanged himself Saturday morning, and his body was removed from Manhattan Correctional Center soon after. The timing of his death, which followed a 2,000-page document dump on Friday, as well as the fact that he had been placed on suicide watch following an incident in which he was found unconscious last month, was met with suspicion from many.

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, for example, called for "lots" of "answers."

"We need answers. Lots of them," the New York congresswoman tweeted amid skepticism surrounding the nature of Epstein's death.



We need answers. Lots of them.https://t.co/4DMckiZnVB — Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) August 10, 2019



While law enforcement officers indicated Epstein had killed himself, the New York City Chief Medical Examiner has yet to make an official ruling on his cause of death.

"We are investigating the cause of death and we have an open case," a representative said. "There is no official cause of death yet — the medical examiner has to do their job."

Epstein's death marks the end of the criminal case against him, as no one else was charged in the indictment. His alleged victims, however, are calling for his "accomplices and enablers" to face prosecution, and some are even planning on filing a civil case against his estate.