A former corrections officer who was on duty the night Jeffrey Epstein died has told the House Oversight Committee that her life has been "derailed" by conspiracy theories and threats suggesting she played a role in his death.

Tova Noel, who was among the last people to see the convicted sex offender alive at the Metropolitan Correctional Center (MCC) in New York City, testified in a closed-door interview released this week. She denied any involvement in Epstein's death and attributed systemic failures at the facility to the issues that arose that night.

Noel stated that severe understaffing, inadequate training, and poor communication between management and officers led to her "improperly executed" responsibilities, which she described as the "MCC Way." She acknowledged falsifying records to appear as though she completed her rounds, but asserted this was done at the beginning of her shift and was unrelated to Epstein's death or any cover-up.

Prosecutors had accused Noel and another guard in November 2019 of falsifying records, allowing an eight-hour period where no one checked on inmates in the Special Housing Unit, ultimately leading to Epstein being found unresponsive. Both guards reached deals with prosecutors, and their cases were dropped in December 2021.

Despite the dropped charges, Noel stated that her life has been significantly impacted. "I thought that I would be able to privately rebuild my life and career," she testified. "Instead, I have consistently been the subject of threats to my life, conspiracy theories, and outrageous rumors, impacting my mental and physical health."

Noel described receiving threats from strangers and witnessing "strangers pontificate about whether I'm a murderer" and speculate about her involvement in Epstein's death. She also stated that her browsing history and bank transactions were scrutinized as part of the investigation into her actions that night.

Her testimony comes after a period where the handling of Epstein's high-profile suicide in federal custody has faced intense scrutiny. The MCC facility itself has been criticized for its management and security protocols.

Noel, who served in the National Guard including during Operation Enduring Freedom in Kuwait, expressed her desire to move past the incident and rebuild her life, but has found it difficult due to the ongoing public attention and threats.