Warning: Graphic content
Two women whose images as girls were found in pornography seized from Jeffrey Epstein filed a class action lawsuit on Wednesday seeking damages from the late sex offender’s estate for individuals featured in his collection of thousands of pictures and videos of child sexual abuse material.
The lawsuit seeks at least US$6 million on behalf of more than 40 people, some of whom were in Epstein’s so-called “modelling book,” a collection of sexualized images of children seized by federal investigators in 2019 from his New York home, according to the filing in Manhattan federal district court.
Others were shown in thousands of downloaded videos and images of child sexual abuse material and other pornography taken from the late financier’s properties, according to the action.
The lawsuit aims to broaden legal reckoning against Epstein beyond women who have sued his estate over sexual assaults, to those he exploited as children through pictures he and his associates took of them or obtained. In some cases the images were then distributed to others.
The lawsuit was filed against Epstein’s former attorney Darren Indyke and his former accountant Richard Kahn, the co-executors of the Epstein estate. Daniel Weiner, a lawyer representing Indyke, declined to comment. An attorney for Kahn did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
One of the plaintiffs, identified as Jane Doe, alleges Epstein stole partially nude photographs of her taken when she was 12. The other, using the pseudonym “Amy,” says she is featured in child sexual abuse material seized from Epstein’s properties in 2019 that is still being traded today.
Hillary Nappi, a lawyer representing the plaintiffs, said the lawsuit could potentially involve thousands of class members. She said in an interview that most people pictured in Epstein’s collection had never been identified.
The lawsuit calls for Epstein’s estate and federal authorities to work with the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children to identify individuals in the collection and inform them. It asks for the estate to pay class action members $150,000 each, as well as other penalties.
Epstein was convicted of soliciting sex from a minor in 2008 and charged with sex trafficking of minors in 2019, months before he was found dead in a New York jail cell, his death ruled a suicide. He was never prosecuted for creating, obtaining or distributing child sexual abuse material.
(Reporting by Andrew Hay in New Mexico; editing by Donna Bryson and Jonathan Spicer)
Andrew Hay, Reuters
If you or someone you know is struggling with sexual assault or trauma, the following resources are available to support people in crisis:
- Call 911 if you are in immediate danger or fear for your safety.
- The Canadian Association of Sexual Assault Centres’ website has a comprehensive list of sexual assault centres in Canada that offer information, advocacy and counselling.
- The Ending Violence Association of Canada’s website has links to helplines, support services and locations across Canada that offer sexual assault kits.
- Indian Residential School Survivors Society crisis lines: +1 866 925 4419 or +1 800 721 0066 (24/7)
- Toronto Rape Crisis Centre crisis line: +1 416 597 8808 (24/7)
- Canadian Human Trafficking Hotline: +1 833 900 1010 (24/7)
- Trans Lifeline: +1 877 330 6366
- Suicide Crisis Helpline: call or text 988 (24/7)
- Sexual Misconduct Support and Resource Centre for current and former Canadian Armed Forces members: +1 844 750 1648
- Read about your rights as a victim on the Canadian Resource Centre for Victims of Crime website.
