The key facts
- New Mexico seeks to freeze Epstein estate payouts to lawyer Indyke ($50 million) and accountant Kahn ($25 million)
- The lawsuit accuses them of money laundering and concealing abuses at Zorro Ranch
- Two surviving victims joined the lawsuit announcement alongside Attorney General Torres
State seeks to freeze estate payouts
The New Mexico Department of Justice has filed a federal lawsuit against Jeffrey Epstein's longtime personal lawyer Darren K. Indyke and his accountant Richard D. Kahn, the outlet KOB 4 reported on Wednesday. According to the complaint, they 'knowingly' used their positions, as well as the deceased's accounts and companies, to 'finance and conceal abuses' against girls and women at the Zorro Ranch in Santa Fe County.
Amounts and demands of the lawsuit
Indyke is owed $50 million from the Epstein estate, Kahn $25 million; the estate's value exceeds $107 million. According to the report, Indyke has already received more than $16 million, Kahn over $10 million. The state asks the court to bar further payouts during the proceedings. The lawsuit also demands a finding that the defendants engaged in racketeering and human trafficking in violation of state and federal laws, as well as an order to divest from Epstein-related interests and to restrict certain future investments.
Statements and context
'Jeffrey Epstein did not act alone, and his death does not end the pursuit of accountability for the people who made his crimes possible,' New Mexico Attorney General Raul Torres said in a comment to KOB 4. Two surviving victims of Epstein, Julia Molchanova and Anouska De Georgiou, took part in the lawsuit announcement alongside Torres. Epstein was found dead in his cell in a New York jail on August 10, 2019, while awaiting trial on charges of sexual abuse and trafficking of underage girls. Released case materials mentioned prominent figures, including Donald Trump, Bill Clinton, and former British Prince Andrew; the mere mention does not indicate involvement in wrongdoing.
