In July 2019, the FBI raided Jeffrey Epstein's New York mansion on the very day he was arrested for child sex trafficking. During the search, agents forced open a large safe and discovered diamonds, bundles of cash, passports, binders of CDs, and hard drives. However, due to an issue with the search warrant, they were initially unable to seize these items. When they returned with a new warrant, the safe had been emptied. FBI documents revealed that Richard Kahn, Epstein’s accountant and bookkeeper since 2005, had instructed the mansion’s staff to pack the contents of the safe into two suitcases and deliver them to his home. Kahn agreed to hand over the suitcases to the FBI but refused to disclose who had directed him to remove the items or allow agents to visit his house.
Despite this suspicious sequence of events, a source close to Epstein’s criminal investigation told the BBC that Kahn was never interviewed or investigated in connection with Epstein’s crimes. Kahn’s current lawyer confirmed that he has fully cooperated with FBI requests.
Richard Kahn, alongside Epstein’s longtime lawyer Darren Indyke, serves as co-executors of Epstein’s estate. Although not widely known to the public, these two men hold significant control over Epstein’s wealth, possessions, and the compensation owed to survivors of his abuse. They also oversee the sensitive documents still held by the Epstein estate, which have been released to the U.S. House Oversight Committee upon request.
As part of its ongoing investigation into Epstein’s network, the House Oversight Committee has subpoenaed Kahn and Indyke to testify. Kahn is scheduled to appear on March 11, 2024, with Indyke set to testify on March 19. The BBC has reviewed court documents, interviewed sources connected to Epstein-related investigations, and analyzed newly released Department of Justice files to better understand the roles Kahn and Indyke played during Epstein’s life and continue to play after his death.
Epstein appointed Kahn and Indyke as co-executors of his estate in August 2019, just two days before his death in jail while awaiting trial. He revised his will to transfer all his wealth into a trust named after his birth year, which these two men were tasked to administer. In their role as executors, both men have negotiated compensation packages for survivors, including agreements that prevent survivors from taking further legal action against them personally if they accept the funds. However, some claims remain unresolved.
As beneficiaries of the trust, Kahn and Indyke stand to receive tens of millions of dollars once all claims against the estate are settled. The exact value of Epstein’s estate remains unclear, but legal representatives for survivors estimate it to be around $635 million at the time of Epstein’s death.
One survivor of Epstein’s abuse, who wished to remain anonymous, told the BBC that both Kahn and Indyke have serious questions to answer about their knowledge of Epstein’s criminal enterprise. She emphasized that Epstein could not have operated alone and urged investigators to "follow the money," suggesting that understanding the financial trail reveals much about how Epstein’s operation functioned.
Court filings allege that both Kahn and Indyke had signatory authority over virtually all Epstein’s bank accounts, allowing them to authorize transactions. They also reportedly helped manage multiple Epstein-owned corporations, some of which court documents claim were created solely to facilitate Epstein’s sex trafficking activities. Kahn’s lawyer categorically denies these claims, stating that Epstein’s businesses were legitimate tax-filing entities with transparent ownership.
Documents further allege that the two men received millions in fees and loans from Epstein, paid off survivors, and even facilitated coerced marriages for trafficked women to help them remain in the United States. One lawsuit states that aside from Ghislaine Maxwell—Epstein’s convicted associate—no one was as central to Epstein’s operation as Indyke and Kahn.
U.S. Congressman Suhas Subramanyam, a member of the House Oversight Committee, told the BBC that Kahn and Indyke could provide critical insights into Epstein’s affairs. He noted that survivors have mentioned the two men as having awareness of Epstein’s crimes beyond just financial dealings, including sex trafficking.
Both Indyke and Kahn deny any wrongdoing and face no criminal charges. Indyke’s lawyer emphasized that no court has ever found either man guilty of misconduct. He also stated that no survivor has ever accused them of sexual abuse or claimed to have reported abuse