The Vault: The Epstein Files

MCC Corrections Officer Michael Thomas And His OIG Interview Related To Epstein's Death (Part 9) (3/3/26)

Mar 5, 2026
Michael Thomas, a veteran Federal Bureau of Prisons corrections officer who worked the Metropolitan Correctional Center SHU the night Jeffrey Epstein died. He walks through how notifications, cellmate assignments, and chain-of-command work. He describes official overnight counts, the required midnight/3AM/5AM checks, and the every-30-minute rounds procedure.
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INSIGHT

R&D Is First Line For Count Changes

  • R&D (Records & Detention) is the initial node that should notify multiple parties when an inmate leaves, triggering reassignments for high-profile detainees.
  • Michael Thomas explains R&D should call control center, the shoe (SHU), and the lieutenant so counts and cellmate needs are addressed promptly.
INSIGHT

Cellmate Changes Require Supervisor Authorization

  • Assigning a new cellmate for a high-profile inmate must come from higher-ups, typically the shoe lieutenant or operations staff.
  • Thomas says floor staff are not authorized to place someone with Jeffrey Epstein without explicit direction from leadership.
ADVICE

Call Up Immediately When A Cellmate Leaves

  • If shoe staff discover a required cellmate has left, they must call someone immediately—shoe lieutenant or operations lieutenant if the lieutenant is unavailable.
  • Thomas instructs to escalate via phone so operations can fill the cellmate requirement.
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