Tova Noel Testimony Before the House Oversight Committee
House Oversight Committee Interview of Tova Noel
Snapshot
The House Oversight Committee Interview of Tova Noel is a congressional transcript from May 18, 2026. The interview focused on Tova Noel’s work as a correctional officer at the Metropolitan Correctional Center in Manhattan, her assignment to the Special Housing Unit, and the conditions surrounding Jeffrey Epstein’s death on August 10, 2019.
Noel testified about missing Special Housing Unit training, routine mandatory overtime, inaccurate inmate monitoring records, staffing shortages, and what she described as the “MCC way.” Her testimony is important because it gives a firsthand account of institutional failures inside the federal facility where Epstein died.
Document Information
Document Title: Interview of Tova Noel
Witness: Tova Noel
Date: May 18, 2026
Committee: House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform
Location: Rayburn House Office Building, Washington, D.C.
Document Type: Congressional interview transcript
Length: 135 pages
Primary Evidence Link: Tova Noel Transcript on House Oversight
Epstein Data Evidence Link: Witness Brief Tova Noel MCC Correctional Officer
Why This Transcript Matters
This transcript matters because Tova Noel was one of the correctional officers on duty during the overnight shift when Jeffrey Epstein died at MCC. Her testimony does not prove a conspiracy. It does, however, document serious operational problems inside the facility.
The transcript gives EpsteinWiki readers direct evidence about staffing shortages, incomplete training, inaccurate logs, exhaustion among correctional officers, and the failure to properly complete required inmate counts and rounds.
Major Points From the Transcript
Noel Said She Was Assigned to the SHU Without Required Training
Noel testified that she was assigned to the Special Housing Unit after returning from a workplace injury. She stated that she missed required SHU training while on leave.
According to Noel, she was later told to sign paperwork stating that she had completed the training even though she had not. She testified that supervisor Kimberly Shivers told her not to date the form because the date would have conflicted with the actual training period.
This is one of the most important parts of the transcript because it raises questions about training records, program review preparation, and whether MCC staff were properly qualified for SHU assignments.
Noel Described Severe Understaffing and Overtime
Noel testified that the SHU was understaffed and that officers regularly worked mandatory overtime. She described officers working sixteen hour shifts and said fatigue affected job performance.
She explained that officers often volunteered for overtime early because they knew they would be mandated later if they did not. This allowed them to choose a post instead of being assigned wherever management needed them.
This section is important because it supports the broader record showing that staffing failures were central to the conditions at MCC before Epstein’s death.
Noel Described the “MCC Way”
Noel used the phrase “MCC way” to describe how policies were applied differently in practice inside the facility.
She testified that she learned by watching more experienced officers and that some written Bureau of Prisons procedures were not followed as written. She said log sheets were sometimes filled out before rounds were completed, even though that was not proper procedure.
This testimony is important because it suggests that Epstein’s death occurred in a facility where informal shortcuts had become normalized.
Noel Admitted Counts and Rounds Were Not Properly Completed
Noel admitted that required counts and rounds were not properly completed on August 9 and August 10, 2019. She also admitted that documentation was inaccurate.
She stated that this failure was not specific to Epstein and was not part of any conspiracy. She attributed the failure to exhaustion, inadequate training, understaffing, and the institutional culture at MCC.
Jeffrey Epstein Related Testimony
Noel testified that Jeffrey Epstein was housed in the SHU because he was a high profile inmate. She said he spent much of his time outside the SHU meeting with attorneys and that she had limited interaction with him.
Noel denied receiving money to ignore Epstein. She denied being threatened. She denied being instructed not to check his cell. She denied participating in any conspiracy related to his death.
July 23 Incident
Noel testified that she was not on duty during the July 23, 2019 incident involving Epstein and Nicholas Tartaglione.
She stated that she first learned about the incident from Tartaglione rather than from prison management. She also testified that she was not given special instructions for Epstein after the incident and did not receive new duties related to suicide watch or enhanced monitoring.
Evidence Appearances
House Oversight Transcript
The transcript itself is the primary evidence item for this article.
House Oversight Committee Interview of Tova Noel
Epstein Data Witness Brief
Epstein Data maintains a witness brief for Tova Noel that connects her role to MCC, Michael Thomas, congressional testimony, and related evidence questions.
Witness Brief Tova Noel MCC Correctional Officer
Related Epstein Data Evidence
Key People Mentioned
Related Organizations
- Metropolitan Correctional Center Manhattan
- Federal Bureau of Prisons
- House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform
- Department of Justice Office of the Inspector General
Key Takeaways
- Tova Noel testified voluntarily before the House Oversight Committee on May 18, 2026.
- The transcript focuses on MCC conditions, SHU procedures, and Epstein’s death.
- Noel said she did not receive required SHU training.
- Noel alleged she was told to sign paperwork saying she had completed the training.
- Noel described severe understaffing inside MCC.
- Noel testified that officers regularly worked sixteen hour shifts.
- Noel described a workplace culture known as the “MCC way.”
- Noel admitted that counts and rounds were not properly completed.
- Noel admitted that documentation was inaccurate.
- Noel denied being paid to ignore Epstein.
- Noel denied being threatened regarding Epstein.
- Noel denied being instructed not to check Epstein’s cell.
- Noel said Epstein was housed in SHU because he was high profile.
- Noel said she had limited interaction with Epstein because he often met with attorneys.
- The transcript supports the record of systemic failures at MCC.
Source List
- Epstein Data Witness Brief Tova Noel
- Epstein Data EFTA00061698
- Epstein Data EFTA00094944
- Epstein Data EFTA02731852 PDF