New Mexico Challenges Two Men Who Managed Epstein’s Estate
New Mexico has filed a civil lawsuit against Jeffrey Epstein’s longtime lawyer and accountant. The state accuses the two men of helping hide abuse connected to Epstein’s sex-trafficking operation and of gaining from it.
The men, lawyer Darren Indyke and accountant Richard Kahn, managed Epstein’s estate. They controlled his money and property after he died. Both deny knowing about or helping with his crimes.
Claims About Zorro Ranch
New Mexico Attorney General Raúl Torrez says Indyke and Kahn played an important part in covering up abuse at Zorro Ranch, Epstein’s remote property near Santa Fe. Torrez also argues that the men are still able to make money from Epstein’s wealth while survivors seek justice.
The civil case is separate from New Mexico’s criminal investigation into Epstein, which the state restarted in February. The lawsuit uses two laws: the federal Trafficking Victims Protection Act and New Mexico’s Racketeering Act.
The men’s attorney said they strongly reject the lawsuit’s claims and believe they will win the case. He said the accusations that they knowingly helped Epstein sexually abuse or traffic women are false. He also said they did not know about Epstein’s actions while providing him with legal and accounting services.
Dispute Over Epstein’s Money
Epstein’s estate was estimated to be worth about $635 million when he died. Torrez says the money should go to survivors, not to people accused of helping Epstein’s criminal operation.
The state’s attorney general also says Indyke and Kahn are standing in the way of survivors who are trying to receive money from the estate. He has argued that people who took part in Epstein’s operation should not receive any of the wealth left behind.
The attorney for Indyke and Kahn said the state prosecutor did not ask to speak with either man before filing the lawsuit. He also said both men have cooperated with investigations when asked.
How the Men Took Control of the Estate
Epstein named Indyke and Kahn as co-executors of his estate shortly before he died in jail while awaiting trial on child sex-trafficking charges. He had changed his will so that his wealth would go into a trust named for his birth year. The lawyer and accountant were responsible for managing that trust.
In their role as executors, the two men agreed to fund compensation packages for survivors. Those packages included terms that stopped people who accepted money from bringing further legal claims against Indyke and Kahn personally. Other claims against the estate remain unresolved.
The lawsuit also raises questions about what the men could receive from the trust. As beneficiaries, they could each be paid tens of millions of dollars from whatever money remains after claims are settled.
The Men Deny Knowing About Crimes
Indyke and Kahn worked with Epstein for decades. They have previously told Congress that they did not know about crimes he committed with his accomplice, Ghislaine Maxwell.
Torrez has argued that Epstein could not have carried out his crimes without help from people around him, including handlers, lawyers, and accountants. He says others connected to the operation have not yet faced serious consequences.
The lawsuit will now test the state’s claims against the two men. Indyke and Kahn deny that they knowingly helped Epstein abuse or traffic women, while New Mexico is seeking to hold them responsible for their alleged role and their handling of his wealth.