Epstein's Former Associates Deny Knowledge of Crimes in Congressional Depositions
Jeffrey Epstein's former accountant, Richard Kahn, and longtime personal attorney, Darren Indyke, recently provided separate closed-door depositions to the House Oversight Committee. Both individuals, who were designated co-executors of Epstein's estate, stated they were unaware of Epstein's sexual abuse and trafficking crimes during their respective tenures.
Committee members expressed skepticism regarding these claims, citing various alleged involvements in Epstein's financial and legal operations.
Congressional Depositions: Denials and Disavowals
Richard Kahn, who worked for Jeffrey Epstein from 2005 until Epstein's death in 2019, testified before the House Oversight Committee on Wednesday. Kahn stated he was "not aware" of Epstein's crimes, asserting he never observed sexual abuse or trafficking, and did not receive complaints during Epstein's lifetime. He expressed regret for any unwitting assistance. Through his company HBRK Associates Inc., Kahn managed Epstein's finances and advised on various transactions.
Darren Indyke, Epstein's personal attorney for over two decades until 2019, also testified before the committee. Indyke maintained he had "no knowledge whatsoever" of Epstein's crimes against women and girls. In his prepared opening statement, he claimed his "complete lack of involvement in that misconduct is a matter of record" and stated he would have resigned if he had known of the abuse. Indyke specified his primary role was to provide corporate, transactional, and general legal services.
Committee's Scrutiny and Allegations of Complicity
Democratic members of the committee questioned the credibility of both Kahn's and Indyke's claims of ignorance. Representative Robert Garcia (D-CA) indicated that Kahn acknowledged facilitating a fake marriage and impersonating Epstein in banking communications. Garcia also stated that Indyke played a central role in facilitating Epstein's alleged abuse and managing legal strategies.
Other Democrats, including Representative James Walkinshaw (D-VA), found it "very hard to believe" Indyke knew nothing after working closely with Epstein for so long. Walkinshaw described Indyke as a "key insider and enabler" without whom Epstein's operation would not have been possible.
According to Department of Justice documents, Indyke was reportedly implicated in emails concerning the erasure of hard drives. It was also alleged that Epstein referred victims to Indyke if contacted by law enforcement. Indyke was flagged in 2017 for making "structured cash transactions" from Epstein's account.
Representative Dave Min (D-CA) stated there is evidence Indyke was "central to Jeffrey Epstein's orbit" and advised women not to speak to police. Indyke denied allegations of facilitating sexual abuse, trafficking, or "sham marriages," calling them "categorically false." He also stated his cash withdrawals complied with bank requirements and limits, not to avoid federal reporting.
Epstein's Financial Network and Clientele
During his testimony, Kahn detailed aspects of Epstein's financial network. Committee Chair Representative James Comer (R-KY) reported that Kahn believed Epstein's income stemmed from his work as a tax advisor and financial planner, enabling him to amass hundreds of millions of dollars over two decades.
Lawmakers stated that a comprehensive understanding of Epstein's finances is crucial to comprehending how he allegedly facilitated his trafficking and abuse.
Kahn confirmed that Epstein received substantial funds from several individuals, including former retail executive Les Wexner, hedge fund manager Glenn Dubin, tech entrepreneur Steven Sinofsky, investor Leon Black, and the Rothschild banking family. None of these individuals have faced accusations of wrongdoing in their interactions with Epstein.
Comer noted that Kahn testified he had not seen transactions involving Donald Trump or his family, aligning with previous witness testimonies.
The committee's investigation has reviewed over 40,000 documents subpoenaed from JPMorgan Chase and Deutsche Bank. Epstein was reportedly linked to at least 64 distinct business entities.
Post-Death Estate Management
Two days before his death, Epstein designated both Kahn and Indyke as co-executors and beneficiaries of his estate. Since Epstein's death, Kahn and Indyke have managed settlements from the estate. The Epstein Victims' Compensation Fund awarded over $121 million to 136 survivors before closing in 2021.
Indyke and Kahn also faced scrutiny regarding their alleged involvement in Epstein's network in a 2020 lawsuit from the U.S. Virgin Islands attorney general, which settled for over $105 million in 2022.