Prosecutors in New Mexico have filed a civil lawsuit against two longtime aides to Jeffrey Epstein. They claim the men helped hide his sex crimes and may profit from his estate.
The case names lawyer Darren Indyke and accountant Richard Kahn. Both men worked for Epstein for many years. They are also the sole managers of his estate. They control his remaining money and property.
New Mexico Attorney General Raúl Torrez says the men helped hide abuse at Zorro Ranch. The large property sits near Santa Fe. Torrez also says the men may gain from Epstein’s wealth while survivors still seek justice.
The lawsuit was filed on Wednesday. It uses the federal Trafficking Victims Protection Act and the New Mexico Racketeering Act. The civil case is separate from a criminal probe into Epstein in New Mexico. Officials restarted that probe in February.
Indyke and Kahn deny the claims. Their lawyer, Daniel Weiner, told the BBC that both men reject the charges. He said they expect to win the case.
Weiner said the men did not knowingly help Epstein abuse or traffic women. He also said they had no knowledge of Epstein’s crimes while doing their legal and accounting work.
The lawyer added that prosecutors did not ask to speak with either man before filing the case. He said both men had helped with past probes when asked.
Prosecutors Seek Accountability
Torrez said Epstein could not have carried out his crimes without help from people around him. He said lawyers, accountants and other associates should face questions about their possible roles.
Epstein died in jail in August 2019. He was awaiting trial on federal charges linked to child sex trafficking. His death did not end the search for answers about his actions or the people who worked with him.
“Jeffrey Epstein did not operate alone,” Torrez said. He added that Epstein’s death did not end efforts to hold those who may have helped him to account.
The attorney general also said money from the estate should go to survivors. He argued that people accused of helping Epstein should not gain from the same wealth.
Epstein’s estate was worth about $635 million when he died. The money remains a key issue in legal claims from people who say they suffered abuse.
Estate Plan Raises Questions
Epstein named Indyke and Kahn as co-executors in August 2019. This was just two days before his death. He had changed his will and placed his wealth in a trust named after his birth year. The two men were put in charge of the trust.
As estate managers, they agreed to fund payments for survivors. But the payment terms also limited the right of people who accepted money to bring further legal action against Indyke and Kahn in their personal roles.
Some claims against the estate remain open. The new lawsuit asks whether the men played a role in hiding abuse and whether they should receive any of the money left behind.
Indyke and Kahn could each receive tens of millions of dollars as trust beneficiaries. That would depend on the outcome of claims against the estate. Torrez argues that such payments would be wrong if the men helped Epstein’s abuse continue or hid his crimes.
The two men have told Congress that they did not know about Epstein’s criminal acts. They deny knowing about or helping his sexual abuse and trafficking.
Criminal Probe Remains Open
The civil lawsuit adds to efforts to examine Epstein’s actions and the people around him. New Mexico officials restarted their criminal probe in February. That investigation is separate from the new civil case.
The lawsuit does not prove that Indyke and Kahn broke the law. The claims must be tested in court. Both men say they did nothing wrong.
Torrez says survivors should not be left to bear the cost while people accused of helping Epstein may gain from his wealth.
The case seeks to hold the estate managers responsible for their alleged actions and the way they handle Epstein’s money. Its outcome may shape the fight over the estate and affect how survivors seek payment for the harm they say they suffered.
