Two of convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein’s associates, who are now his estate executors, are reportedly the subject of a federal probe.
Federal authorities have allegedly opened the probe into the disgraced financier’s former lawyer Darren Indyke and accountant Richard Kahn.
Prosecutors with the Southern District of New York have been scheduling interviews with potential witnesses and have requested documents, including emails and financial records, in recent months, according to The Wall Street Journal exclusive.
The co-executors of Epstein’s will have said they were not aware of his sex trafficking scheme. They have denied knowing about or facilitating Epstein’s crimes and characterized their work for him as strictly professional.
Following Epstein’s death in prison in 2019, Mr. Indyke and Mr. Kahn were named trustees of his remaining assets, setting up a compensation fund for victims while standing to receive substantial bequests, reportedly $50 million for Mr. Indyke and $25 million for Mr. Kahn.
Survivors and lawsuits have accused the two of playing an essential role in enabling Epstein’s sex-trafficking operation by providing the legal and financial structures that supported it, including handling cash withdrawals and facilitating sham marriages, The Journal reported.
The unprecedented public release of nearly 3.5 million pages of Epstein’s case files by the Justice Department under the Epstein Files Transparency Act has triggered severe global political, legal and corporate fallout.
High-profile corporate figures and political leaders have been ousted from their roles or resigned following their mention in the publicly posted DOJ documents.
Justice Department officials have maintained that they uncovered no evidence to support criminal charges against uncharged third parties in connection with Epstein’s activities.
The House Oversight Committee subpoenaed and deposed Mr. Indyke and Mr. Kahn. The two testified that federal investigators never formally interviewed them during past Justice Department reviews.
Lauren Hersh, CEO of World Without Exploitation, a coalition that has worked closely with Epstein survivors, said Epstein’s abuse was made possible by people and institutions that “enabled exploitation, protected powerful people and failed the women and girls who were harmed.”
She added in a statement, “We welcome the news that federal prosecutors are investigating Darren Indyke and Richard Kahn and asking questions that should have been asked years ago. Survivors deserve a full accounting of how Epstein and those in his orbit were able to operate for so long, and accountability for everyone who enabled or participated in their exploitation.”
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