New Mexico attorney general files civil lawsuit against two Epstein advisers
New Mexico Moves to Block Epstein Advisers From Estate Payouts
Qwenews.com – New Mexico Attorney General Raúl Torrez has brought a civil case against two longtime advisers to Jeffrey Epstein, seeking to stop them from receiving money from the late financier’s trust and alleging that they helped enable and hide his criminal conduct.
The lawsuit, filed Wednesday, names Darren Indyke and Richard Kahn, who serve as co-executors of Epstein’s estate. Indyke worked for Epstein for many years as an employee and attorney, while Kahn was his longtime accountant. Both have faced increasing scrutiny over their involvement in Epstein’s business and financial affairs following the release of Justice Department files late last year.
Torrez’s action is part of a wider effort by New Mexico authorities to investigate allegations tied to Zorro Ranch, the property Epstein owned in the state. The attorney general’s office began examining the ranch earlier this year after the released files contained allegations involving the site.
“Frankly, if anyone is entitled to a recovery of Jeffrey Epstein’s estate, it’s the survivors,” Torrez said.
He argued that the estate’s remaining assets should not be distributed to advisers he believes participated in concealing one of the country’s most appalling criminal operations.
“There should be no distribution of Mr. Epstein’s remaining assets to people like Mr. Indyke and Mr. Kahn for participation in what I think is one of the most horrific criminal enterprises in modern American history.”
Estate Funds at the Center of the Lawsuit
The dispute centers in part on potential compensation from Epstein’s trust. Under Epstein’s will, Indyke was designated to receive $50 million, while Kahn was designated to receive $25 million. The two men have told congressional investigators that they have not received payment for their estate-related work.
Lawyers representing Indyke and Kahn previously stated that any trust distributions, fees, or bequests would only be considered after creditors and claimants were paid and the probate process had concluded. Survivors of Epstein’s abuse have already pursued multiple claims against the estate, and the new lawsuit places renewed attention on how any remaining funds may eventually be allocated.
Torrez’s civil filing does not stand alone. Indyke and Kahn have also been named in lawsuits by survivors seeking compensation, and they are reportedly the subject of a federal investigation. Lawyers for the two men were contacted for a response to the latest New Mexico action.
Indyke and Kahn have consistently denied knowing about or participating in Epstein’s sex-trafficking operation. Their denials became central during closed-door depositions conducted earlier this year by the House Oversight Committee.
Congressional Testimony Details Their Relationship With Epstein
Indyke said he started working for Epstein in 1996 and rejected any suggestion that he had knowledge of Epstein’s misconduct.
“Let me be clear: I had no knowledge whatsoever of Jeffrey Epstein’s wrongdoings,” Indyke said during his March deposition.
“My complete lack of involvement in that misconduct is a matter of record. Not a single woman has ever accused me of committing sexual abuse or witnessing sexual abuse, or claimed at any time that she or anyone else reported to me any allegation of Mr. Epstein’s abuse.”
Kahn told lawmakers that he began working for Epstein in 2005. He said he saw Epstein roughly once every three weeks, did not socialize with him, and did not attend Epstein’s parties or other social events.
“We did not interact socially, and I never attended any of his parties of his social functions. While Epstein was alive, I never observed any sexual abuse or trafficking of women and never received a complaint — either by one of Epstein’s victims or anyone else — of such abuse or trafficking.”
Both advisers told the committee that they would have ended their professional relationships with Epstein immediately had they known he was trafficking women and girls.
Zorro Ranch Investigation Expands
New Mexico reopened its criminal investigation into Zorro Ranch in February. The move followed the disclosure of a 2019 email sent to a local radio host. That email alleged that “somewhere in the hills outside the Zorro, two foreign girls were buried on orders of Jeffrey and Madam G.”
State authorities have searched the ranch as part of the renewed inquiry. The investigation has also prompted broader demands for records and cooperation from federal officials and individuals connected to Epstein’s operations.
Torrez has separately sued the Justice Department and US Attorney General Todd Blanche, accusing the department of withholding information involving Epstein and alleged co-conspirators and of obstructing New Mexico’s investigation. That case reflects the attorney general’s contention that state investigators need fuller access to federal material to assess allegations linked to the ranch.
Lawmakers in New Mexico have opened a parallel review. A bipartisan legislative commission is examining claims of criminal activity surrounding Zorro Ranch and has issued several subpoenas. Indyke and Kahn have not received subpoenas from that commission.
What the Civil Case Could Mean
The lawsuit raises a central question in the continuing legal aftermath of Epstein’s crimes: who should receive assets left in his estate once legal claims, creditor obligations, and probate requirements are resolved? Torrez’s position is that survivors should take priority over former advisers who, he alleges, played a role in facilitating or concealing Epstein’s conduct.
The case will likely require the court to weigh the allegations against Indyke and Kahn alongside their repeated denials and the legal framework governing Epstein’s trust and estate. It also adds another layer to the ongoing investigations into Zorro Ranch, where New Mexico officials continue to pursue information about the property’s possible connection to alleged criminal activity.
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