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The day after Epstein's death in prison, Barr announced he had asked the Department of Justice Office of Inspector General to investigate the circumstances surrounding the matter, in addition to an FBI investigation that already launched. A source familiar with the investigation told ABC News on Sunday that Barr instructed FBI deputy director David Bowdich to update Deputy Attorney General Jeffrey Rosen every three hours on their investigation and that Rosen has been in constant communication with Barr.

\"I was appalled to learn that Jeffrey Epstein was found dead early this morning from an apparent suicide while in federal custody,\" Barr said in a statement Saturday. \"Mr. Epstein's death raises serious questions that must be answered.\"

\"PHOTO:
Drew Angerer/Getty Images
PHOTO: U.S. Attorney General William Barr speaks at the International Conference on Cyber Security at Fordham University School of Law on July 23, 2019 in New York City.
>

Barr's remarks follow several scathing rebukes of the Justice Department from lawmakers like Sen. Ben Sasse, who in a statement Saturday said that there was no excuse for Epstein to be approved to be taken off of suicide watch.

\"Every single person in the Justice Department -- from your Main Justice headquarters staff all the way to the night-shift jailer -- knew that this man was a suicide risk, and that his dark secrets couldn't be allowed to die with him,\" Sasse, R-Neb., said. \"Given Epstein's previous attempted suicide, he should have been locked in a padded room under unbroken, 24/7, constant surveillance. Obviously, heads must roll.\"

In addition to Barr, the House Judiciary Committee is also seeking answers over Epstein's death. A bipartisan letter from the committee was sent to the Bureau of Prisons asking 23 questions related to the death of Epstein.

\"The Attorney General has stated that the FBI and the Inspector General of the Department of Justice are investigating the death of Mr. Epstein, and we look forward to learning the results of their inquiries,\" according to the letter. \"However, it is imperative that the Committee on the Judiciary, which has the responsibility to exercise oversight over the Department of Justice, receive responses to these questions related to the adequacy of BOP’s suicide prevention policies and their implementation in this instance, as soon as possible.\"

The letter, which is signed by chairman Jerrold Nadler, D-N.Y., and ranking member Doug Collins, R-Ga., asks for a response by Aug. 21.

ABC News' Katherine Faulders contributed to this report.

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