On a Wednesday in autumn, New Mexico's prosecutors turned to the civil courts to ask a familiar question of power: who should keep the fortune left behind by a man whose crimes have outlived him. The state accuses Jeffrey Epstein's two executors, the lawyer Darren Indyke and the accountant Richard Kahn, of helping to hide abuse at his remote ranch near Santa Fe and of continuing to profit from his estate, which was valued near $635m when he died. Both men deny any knowledge of the crimes and call the accusations categorically false, so the question now rests with a court, while the survivors w
New Mexico Sues Epstein's Executors, Alleging They Helped Hide His Sex Crimes and Profit From His Estate
Epstein's victims, who were trafficked and sexually abused, are seeking compensation from his estate, and survivors who accepted settlements may be barred from suing the executors personally.
"Jeffrey Epstein did not operate alone," the attorney general said.
Mark
Why does it matter that this is a civil suit rather than a criminal case?
Mimi
Because it goes after the money. Torrez is arguing the executors are blocking survivors from the roughly $635m estate and still stand to be paid from it.
Luke
Worth saying plainly: these are allegations. The suit hasn't been tested in court, and the executors deny everything.
Mark
What is the executors' position?
Mimi
Their attorney, Daniel Weiner, says they never knowingly helped Epstein and didn't know what he was doing while they provided legal and accounting services. He says they've cooperated with investigations.
Luke
He also says the prosecutor never asked to speak with them first. That's his claim, and the source doesn't include a response from Torrez on it.
Mark
What about the compensation packages?
Mimi
The executors agreed to fund them, but survivors who accepted money couldn't sue the two men personally. Other claims are still outstanding.
Luke
And the 'tens of millions each' figure is a possibility, not a payment. It depends on what's left after claims are settled.
Mark
Does this change the criminal probe?
Mimi
The reporting says they're separate. The criminal probe was relaunched in February.
Luke
What we don't know is how the two tracks might interact, or when any ruling could come.
Le Pouls
- New Mexico's Attorney General has sued Epstein's two executors under federal trafficking law and a state racketeering statute, escalating the pressure on the estate.
- The accusation that the men are profiting from a fortune built on abuse has put their own compensation as trust beneficiaries under public scrutiny.
- Indyke and Kahn, through their lawyer, reject every allegation and insist they cooperated fully with investigators, setting up a direct legal clash.
- Survivors who already accepted settlements may find themselves barred from suing the executors personally, leaving the outcome tied to claims still unresolved.
- A separate criminal probe, re-launched in February, runs alongside the civil suit, and the court's ruling could decide how the estate is divided.
On a Wednesday in autumn, New Mexico's prosecutors turned to the civil courts to ask a familiar question of power: who should keep the fortune left behind by a man whose crimes have outlived him. The state accuses Jeffrey Epstein's two executors, the lawyer Darren Indyke and the accountant Richard Kahn, of helping to hide abuse at his remote ranch near Santa Fe and of continuing to profit from his estate, which was valued near $635m when he died. Both men deny any knowledge of the crimes and call the accusations categorically false, so the question now rests with a court, while the survivors wait to learn what, if anything, remains for them.
On Wednesday, New Mexico's prosecutors filed a civil lawsuit against the two men who now control Jeffrey Epstein's estate. Darren Indyke, a lawyer, and Richard Kahn, an accountant, were named co-executors in August 2019, just two days before Epstein died in jail while awaiting trial on child sex-trafficking charges. The state, under Attorney General Raúl Torrez, accuses them of helping to conceal abuse at Epstein's Zorro Ranch near Santa Fe and of profiting from his fortune, valued at roughly $635m when he died.
Torrez's core argument is about the money. He says the resources belong with survivors, and that nothing should flow to the men for their part in what he called one of the most horrific criminal enterprises in modern America. He also said Epstein did not act alone and that the handlers, lawyers and accountants who enabled him have not yet faced consequences.
The estate's structure complicates the picture. As executors, the two men agreed to fund compensation for survivors, but those payments came with conditions that bar anyone who accepts money from suing them personally. Other claims are still open, and as trust beneficiaries the men could receive tens of millions of dollars each once those claims are settled.
Indyke and Kahn, who have worked with Epstein for decades, have previously told Congress they knew nothing of his crimes. Their lawyer, Daniel Weiner, says they emphatically reject the claims, that the prosecutor never sought to hear from them before filing, and that both have cooperated with every investigation asked of them. The civil case runs apart from the state's criminal probe, which was re-launched in February, and what comes next may depend on how many survivor claims remain to be settled.
On Wednesday, prosecutors in New Mexico filed a civil lawsuit against the two men who now control everything Jeffrey Epstein left behind. Darren Indyke, a lawyer, and Richard Kahn, an accountant, are the sole executors of his estate. The state accuses them of profiting from his sex trafficking ring.
The suit was filed in New Mexico under the federal Trafficking Victims Protection Act and the New Mexico Racketeering Act. Attorney General Raúl Torrez, announcing it at a news conference, said the two men played a key role in concealing abuse at Epstein's remote Zorro Ranch near Santa Fe. He also said they continue to earn money while victims seek accountability.
Torrez's central argument concerns the money. Epstein's fortune was estimated at roughly $635m (£474m) when he died, and the attorney general says the executors are standing in the way of survivors seeking compensation from it. In his words, those resources rightfully belong with survivors, and nothing in the remaining estate should be distributed to people like Indyke and Kahn for taking part in what he called one of the most horrific criminal enterprises in modern America.
The structure of the estate is part of the story. Epstein named the two men co-executors in August 2019, just two days before he killed himself in jail while awaiting trial on child sex-trafficking charges. He also revised his will to move all his wealth into a trust named after the year of his birth, with the lawyer and accountant to administer it.
As executors, Indyke and Kahn agreed to fund compensation packages for survivors. Those packages carried conditions: survivors who accepted money could not take further legal action against the two men personally. Other claims remain outstanding. As beneficiaries of the trust, the men could also be paid tens of millions of dollars each from whatever is left once the claims are settled.
Torrez said Epstein's crimes were made possible by handlers, lawyers and accountants who have yet to face real consequences. He said Epstein did not operate alone and that his death does not end the pursuit of accountability for those who helped. Those who allegedly enabled the exploitation, he added, should not profit from it while survivors live with its consequences.
Both men have worked with Epstein for decades. They previously testified to Congress that they knew nothing of the crimes he committed with his accomplice Ghislaine Maxwell. Their attorney, Daniel Weiner, told the BBC they "emphatically reject" the claims and are confident they will prevail. He called the allegations that they knowingly facilitated or assisted Epstein's abuse or trafficking of women, or knew of his actions while providing legal or accounting services, categorically false.
Weiner also said the New Mexico prosecutor never asked to speak to either man before filing what he called a baseless lawsuit. He said both have cooperated with any and all investigations when asked.
The civil case is separate from the state's criminal probe into Epstein, which was re-launched in February. What happens next may turn on the outstanding survivor claims, since they will help determine whether anything is left to distribute from the estate, and to whom.
Citations marquantes
Those who allegedly enabled this exploitation should not be allowed to profit from it while survivors continue to live with its consequences.— Raúl Torrez, New Mexico Attorney General
They are confident that they will prevail on the claims asserted against them.— Daniel Weiner, attorney for Indyke and Kahn
Envie de l'histoire complète ?
Lire l'original sur BBC News ↗
Business