Former Epstein Jail Guard to Testify in House Investigation

Rep. James Comer says Tova Noel will appear before the House Oversight Committee on March 26.

Mar. 13, 2026 at 9:48pm

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A correctional officer on duty the night convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein died in a New York jail is set to testify before the House Oversight Committee. Rep. James Comer, R-Ky., announced that former guard Tova Noel will appear for a 'transcribed interview' on March 26 as part of the committee's investigation into Epstein's death.

Why it matters

Epstein's death in 2019 at the Metropolitan Correctional Center in New York City sparked widespread scrutiny and investigations into the circumstances surrounding his apparent suicide. Noel's testimony could provide new insights into the events leading up to and surrounding Epstein's death while in federal custody.

The details

Noel and another guard at the Metropolitan Correctional Center were accused of sleeping and browsing the internet instead of monitoring Epstein the night he died. Prosecutors said the two guards falsified prison records to make it appear they had conducted required security checks before Epstein was found unresponsive in his cell. As part of a deal with prosecutors, the guards entered a deferred prosecution agreement with the Justice Department and will not serve time behind bars.

  • Epstein died in August 2019.
  • Noel will testify before the House Oversight Committee on March 26, 2026.

The players

Tova Noel

A former correctional officer at the Metropolitan Correctional Center who was on duty the night Jeffrey Epstein died.

Rep. James Comer

A Republican member of the House Oversight Committee who announced that Noel will testify before the committee.

Jeffrey Epstein

A convicted sex offender who died in his cell at the Metropolitan Correctional Center in New York City in 2019.

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What they’re saying

“'Due to public reporting, documents released by the Department of Justice, and documents obtained by the Committee, the Committee believes you have information that will assist in its investigation.'”

— Rep. James Comer, Republican member of the House Oversight Committee (wdtn.com)

What’s next

The House Oversight Committee is also seeking interviews with several high-profile figures connected to Epstein, including Bill Gates, Kathryn Ruemmler, Leon Black, Lesley Groff, Sarah Kellen, Ted Waitt and Doug Band.

The takeaway

Noel's testimony could provide crucial insights into the events surrounding Epstein's death and the circumstances at the Metropolitan Correctional Center, potentially shedding light on the broader issues and controversies that have surrounded this high-profile case.