Epstein Victims Sue Estate over Child Abuse Images

Two women whose childhood images were found in material seized from Jeffrey Epstein have filed a class-action lawsuit seeking at least $6m from his estate on behalf of more than 40 people depicted in child sexual abuse material.

Some of the images appeared in Epstein’s so-called “modeling book”, a collection of sexualized photographs of children seized by federal investigators from his New York home in 2019. Others appeared in more than 10,000 downloaded videos and images of child sexual abuse material and other pornography recovered from his properties.

One plaintiff, identified as Jane Doe, alleges that Epstein stole partially nude photographs of her taken when she was 12. The second, using the pseudonym “Amy”, says she appears in child sexual abuse material seized from Epstein’s properties that is still being traded today.

Hillary Nappi, an attorney representing the plaintiffs, said the case could potentially involve thousands of people, most of whom have never been identified. The lawsuit asks Epstein’s estate and federal authorities to work with the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children to identify and notify them.

The plaintiffs are seeking $150,000 for each member of the class, as well as additional financial penalties. The lawsuit was filed against Darren Indyke and Richard Kahn, Epstein’s former attorney and accountant, who are co-executors of his estate.

Epstein was convicted in 2008 of soliciting sex from a minor and charged in 2019 with sex trafficking of minors. He died in a New York jail months later, in a death ruled a suicide. He was never prosecuted for creating, obtaining or distributing child sexual abuse material.

(Reuters, bak)