One among Jeffrey Epstein’s closest enterprise associates testified in Could that he was unaware throughout his employment of allegations that the financier had sexually abused scores of teenage ladies and younger girls, two individuals briefed on the matter stated.
Richard Kahn, who was Mr. Epstein’s accountant for 14 years, stated in a confidential deposition that he had discovered in regards to the worst of Mr. Epstein’s actions solely after his loss of life, the individuals stated. Mr. Epstein killed himself whereas being held in a federal jail on intercourse trafficking prices after his July 2019 arrest.
Why the Deposition Testimony Issues
The deposition was taken in reference to a class-action lawsuit that accused JPMorgan Chase of getting facilitated Mr. Epstein’s intercourse trafficking throughout the years he was a buyer. JPMorgan agreed final 12 months to pay $290 million to just about 200 victims in a settlement.
What Mr. Kahn Was Requested About
The 2 individuals briefed on Mr. Kahn’s testimony, who requested anonymity as a result of the deposition has not been made public, stated he had been questioned about subjects together with money paid to girls related to Mr. Epstein and allegations that the financier coerced some into same-sex marriages.
Mr. Kahn stated that he had been unaware that any lady was being abused and that none had ever requested for assist, in response to the individuals, who described a few of his testimony.
Mr. Kahn and Darren Indyke, a longtime lawyer to Mr. Epstein, have been liable for managing a few of the financier’s enterprise affairs. Mr. Kahn, who has not talked publicly about his time with Mr. Epstein, stated throughout the deposition that he had met with him not less than as soon as each three weeks, however stated he by no means did Mr. Epstein’s taxes. Mr. Epstein named each males coexecutors of his onetime $600 million property they usually arrange a course of that has supplied about $155 million in restitution to Mr. Epstein’s victims.
A lawyer for Mr. Epstein’s property declined to remark.
Money Paid to Feminine ‘Assistants’
Mr. Kahn stated within the deposition that he didn’t understand how a lot money had been stored in a protected at his Manhattan workplace to reimburse or pay a few of Mr. Epstein’s workers and feminine associates, whom the sources stated Mr. Kahn had described as being Mr. Epstein’s “assistants.” Mr. Kahn stated he had not been straight concerned with paying the ladies, who he stated would run errands for Mr. Epstein and journey with him. Mr. Kahn stated he had helped a couple of girls open financial institution accounts. Mr. Kahn stated Mr. Epstein would generally ask him to run itemized experiences detailing a selected lady’s spending habits.
Identical-Intercourse Marriage Preparations
Some lawsuits in opposition to Mr. Epstein’s property have charged that he pressured six girls to marry one another so as to assist some with their immigration standing. Within the testimony, Mr. Kahn stated that he knew that a number of girls related to Mr. Epstein had married one another, however he didn’t know the main points. He additionally stated he didn’t know whether or not Mr. Epstein had organized the same-sex marriages, which occurred after these unions turned authorized in New York. Mr. Kahn stated he had ready tax returns for one of many {couples}. The entire {couples} have since divorced.
Epstein’s Advisory Enterprise Cloaked in Secrecy
Mr. Kahn stated he was conscious Mr. Epstein, who thought-about himself a tax and property planning skilled, had 10 or fewer enterprise purchasers. He stated he was not at liberty to call them due to confidentiality agreements. Mr. Kahn stated he had sat in on a few of Mr. Epstein’s shopper conferences, in response to the sources. He stated a lot of what the financier had performed concerned reviewing purchasers’ holdings and going over varied tax implications and techniques for his or her heirs.
‘Carve-Out’ Provisions in Settlements
Mr. Kahn stated one among Mr. Epstein’s feminine victims had obtained a “carve-out” provision in a settlement with the property that might allow her to pursue claims, if any, in opposition to Leon Black, the non-public fairness billionaire, and James E. Staley, a former prime JPMorgan government. He stated he believed one other sufferer had been granted an analogous association. In a court docket listening to final 12 months, it was disclosed that the lead Jane Doe plaintiff in a separate class-action lawsuit involving Deutsche Financial institution had gotten such a settlement carve out.
Attorneys for Mr. Staley didn’t reply to a request for remark.
Susan Estrich, a lawyer for Mr. Black, who was one among Mr. Epstein’s greatest tax and property purchasers, stated that “there was no suggestion that Mr. Black engaged within the intercourse trafficking which Mr. Epstein perpetrated” and to counsel in any other case “can be false and defamatory.”
What’s Subsequent
Mr. Kahn stated that as of final spring the property’s belongings have been in all probability price about $40 million after bearing in mind settlements and bills. He stated any remaining belongings can be distributed in response to the phrases of a belief Mr. Kahn had described as poorly drafted.
