Jeffrey Epstein had two key aides – why do they still control his money and secrets?

Jeffrey Epstein had two key aides – why do they still control his money and secrets?

Following the FBI’s search of Jeffrey Epstein’s New York residence in July 2019, agents uncovered a variety of items stored in a large safe, including diamonds, cash, passports, and electronic storage devices. However, a procedural oversight delayed their removal, allowing the contents to be taken before the second warrant was issued. According to FBI records, Richard Kahn, Epstein’s accountant since 2005, instructed staff to pack two suitcases with the safe’s contents and deliver them to his home. Kahn later agreed to hand over the suitcases without interference, though he refused to confirm who had directed him to remove the items.

Despite this, investigators have not yet interviewed Kahn about his involvement in Epstein’s criminal activities. His current legal representative told BBC News that Kahn fully cooperated with the FBI’s inquiries. Alongside Kahn, Darren Indyke, Epstein’s longtime attorney, holds authority over the estate, which includes all of Epstein’s assets and documents. Together, they are responsible for managing the trust established in 2019, named after the year of Epstein’s birth, and distributing funds to survivors.

“Jeffrey was just one human. There’s no way that he would have been able to keep up with all this on his own,” said an anonymous woman who was victimized by Epstein. “We always say, follow the money, right? If you follow the money, you can understand a lot about how this operation ran.”

Epstein appointed both Kahn and Indyke as co-executors just days before his death in August 2019. This role granted them control over his wealth and legal affairs. Court documents indicate that the pair had authority to manage nearly all of Epstein’s financial accounts and oversaw multiple corporations, some of which were allegedly used to conceal his sex-trafficking activities. While Kahn’s lawyer dismissed these claims, stating that Epstein’s businesses were primarily for tax purposes, the evidence suggests they played a central role in his operations.

As beneficiaries of the trust, Kahn and Indyke could receive millions from remaining funds once survivor claims are resolved. The estate’s total value at the time of Epstein’s death was estimated at $635m by Edwards Henderson, a law firm representing many survivors. A congressional committee has subpoenaed both men to testify about their roles in Epstein’s network. Kahn is set to appear on Wednesday, while Indyke’s testimony is scheduled for Thursday, 19 March.

US Congressman Suhas Subramanyam, part of the House Oversight Committee, emphasized that the two aides were “as essential and central to Epstein’s operation” as Ghislaine Maxwell, the convicted former associate. Their financial ties to Epstein, including millions in fees and loans, and their alleged involvement in facilitating coerced marriages for trafficked women, remain under scrutiny as the investigation continues.