Silence or justice? Epstein survivors to receive record $35 million settlement
Illustrative photo: compensation for women (Getty Images)
The estate of Jeffrey Epstein and its co-executors have reached an agreement to pay up to $35 million to women who allege abuse, aiming to resolve all remaining lawsuits, according to Bloomberg.
The agreement is intended to fully resolve claims from a group of victims estimated by their lawyer to include at least 40 women. The decision follows earlier payouts through the Epstein Victims’ Compensation Program, which distributed $121 million to 136 claimants and an additional $48 million to 59 victims.
Co-executors of the estate, Darren Indyke and Richard Kahn, who previously served as Jeffrey Epstein’s lawyer and accountant, deny wrongdoing and agreed to the settlement without admitting liability. The payment will be funded by Epstein’s estate.
The proposed settlement requires approval by a federal judge in New York before becoming final. Court documents indicate the payout will total $35 million if the group exceeds 40 women, or $25 million if fewer.
Lawyers for the co-executors said none of the women has accused Indyke or Kahn of sexual abuse or involvement in Epstein’s crimes.
The case is being heard in the US District Court for the Southern District of New York under the title Ward v. Indyke.
The settlement is expected to mark a final stage in the long-running compensation process tied to one of the most high-profile scandals in the United States.
Background on Jeffrey Epstein scandal
The scandal surrounding Jeffrey Epstein became one of the most significant in the US and globally due to the scale of sexual exploitation allegations involving minors and Epstein’s connections to influential political figures, business leaders, and celebrities.
