When the options are: “lie and tempt fate with jail” or “tell the truth and face certain Arkancide”; lying looks like a darn good choice!
Or, tell the truth, say that you suspect impending Arkancide, and dare them to do it. He was facing cancer and he chose to sit on his knowledge of Epstein. I wonder if Saint Peter looked at him through the Pearly Gates and gave him a dramatic thumbs down.