Attorney General William Barr said he was “appalled” by the events surrounding the death of accused sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein.  At the beginning of a speech in New Orleans, Barr said the Department of Justice will get to the bottom of what happened (watch clip above) and that there were “serious irregularities” at the New York City federal jail where Epstein died.

The Wall Street Journal reports that Epstein was taken off suicide watch last month at the request of his lawyers.

Meanwhile the New York Times reports Epstein was supposed to be checked on by guards every half hour, but that procedure was not followed.  He was also supposed to have another inmate in his cell, but that inmate was transferred, allowing Epstein to be housed alone.

An autopsy has been conducted but the medical examiner has so far declined to release the findings.