This is the latest update (March 2026) in the major congressional investigation into the death of Jeffrey Epstein (August 10, 2019, at the Metropolitan Correctional Center – MCC, New York).

Key details:

Submitted by: Tova Noel (former federal prison guard, former U.S. military service member, former postal worker). She was one of two guards on night duty (along with Michael Thomas) when Epstein was found ᴅᴇᴀᴅ in his cell.

Committee: House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, chaired by James Comer (Republican, Kentucky).

Formal request: Letter dated March 13, 2026 (publicly released the same day).

In-person transcribed interview scheduled for March 26, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. ET in Washington, D.C.

Reasons for the subpoena (according to the official letter from Chair Comer):

The Commission is conducting a comprehensive investigation into:

Government mismanagement in the Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell affair.
The circumstances and investigations following Epstein’s death.
Sєx trafficking rings and how the government combated them.
How Epstein/Maxwell used their influence to protect criminal activity.
Ethical misconduct by certain officials.

Specifically to Noel: “Based on press reports, documents from the Department of Justice (DOJ), and documents collected by the Commission, we believe she has information that will support the investigation.”

Chairman Comer told Fox News:

“Most members of the Commission are not 100% convinced that Epstein committed suicide. We have many questions about Epstein. No one is accusing her of wrongdoing, but we need answers.”

New context and evidence have reignited the case:

On the night of August 9-10, 2019: Noel and Thomas failed to check Epstein for eight hours (from approximately 10:30 PM to 6:30 AM), falsifying check records. They were charged with “falsifying records” in 2019 but received a deferred prosecution agreement in 2021 – only required to perform community service and cooperate with DOJ investigators.
Newly released DOJ documents (Epstein Files Transparency Act, 2026):
Noel Googled “latest on Epstein in jail” twice at 5:42 a.m. and 5:52 a.m. (just 40 minutes before the body was discovered at approximately 6:30 a.m.).
Also searched for “latest on omar amarat” (another prisoner) and “law enforcement discounts”.

A $5,000 cash deposit was made into Noel’s account just 10 days before Epstein’s death (along with a series of smaller deposits of approximately $12,000 from 2018-2019). The FBI had previously reported suspicions, but the DOJ had not conducted a thorough investigation.

Noel previously told DOJ investigators (2021): She believed she was the last person to see Epstein alive (around 10 PM on August 9th), and did not remember searching for anything about Epstein.

Current status (March 20, 2026):

This is the latest step in the Commission’s investigation (they have already taken testimony from Bill Barr, Alex Acosta, Ghislaine Maxwell, Les Wexner, Bill Clinton, Hillary Clinton, Richard Kahn… and are scheduled to take testimony from Darren Indyke on March 19th).

There is no formal subpoena yet (only a voluntary request), but the Commission has the right to issue a subpoena if Noel refuses.

The incident caused a major stir because it brought back to light the question of “suicide or murder” after more than 6 years.