How Did News Of Epstein’s Death End Up On 4Chan First?

Jeffrey Epstein Associated Press
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News of Jeffrey Epstein’s apparent death by suicide ended up on 4Chan, an internet messaging board replete with right-wing trolls, so far in advance of the official statement that the FDNY had to look into the posting to determine if an employee had preemptively shared the news.

According to Buzzfeed News, the FDNY said after a review that none of their staff is to blame. Some are speculating that the poster was a medic or other first responder on the scene, as the description included specific details of officials’ attempts to resuscitate Epstein after he allegedly hanged himself.

“[D]ont ask me how I know, but Epstein died an hour ago from hanging, cardiac arrest. Screencap this,” read the post, accompanied by an image of right-wing mascot Pepe the Frog. It was another 38 minutes before ABC News became the first major outlet to break the story.

If it was a medical professional who shared the information, the post would be a major violation of ethics and medical privacy laws.

Epstein was found dead in his jail cell at the Manhattan Correctional Center on Saturday morning, touching off a firestorm of conspiracy theories about how an inmate who apparently tried to kill himself once before ultimately pulled off the feat.

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  1. If it was a medical professional who shared the information, the post would be a major violation of ethics and medical privacy laws.

    In the administration of Don the Con one message is crystal clear: Laws are for Suckers.

  2. …the FDNY said after a review that none of their staff is to blame. Some are speculating that the poster was a medic or other first responder on the scene

    Or an MCC employee?

    Just another dodgy little aftershock, associated this whole dodgy incident.

  3. “[D]ont ask me how I know, but Epstein died an hour ago from hanging, cardiac arrest. Screencap this,” read the post, accompanied by an image of right-wing mascot Pepe the Frog.

    Wow - what a stupid thing to sacrifice a good job for, because they will catch this person.

  4. Whether civilian medical worker or MCC employee (even a rented temp), divulging protected health information is a federal violation under HIPAA.

    Don’t bother to put a name to the leaker, F’ing Moron will just pardon him/her.

  5. Maybe the 4Chan poster had the same source as ABC, which also published news of the death well before any announcement was made through the Bureau of Prisons or whatever.

    Obviously there is a difference between a mainstream news outlet and a troll farm, but the leaking itself is the same.

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