Jeffrey Epstein survivors sue his estate over child sexual abuse material

Two women whose images as girls were found in Jeffrey Epstein’s collection of child sexual abuse material have filed a class action lawsuit seeking damages from the late sex offender's estate.

The lawsuit seeks at least $6 million on behalf of more than 40 people, some of whom were in Epstein's so-called "modeling book," seized by federal investigators in 2019 from his New York home, according to the filing in Manhattan federal district court on Wednesday.

Others were shown in thousands of downloaded videos and images of child sexual abuse material 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 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 was ruled a suicide. He was never ‌prosecuted for creating, obtaining or distributing child sexual abuse material.

If you are a child and you need help because something has happened to you, in the UK, you can call Childline free of charge on 0800 1111. You can also call the NSPCC if you are an adult and you are worried about a child, on 0808 800 5000. The National Association for People Abused in Childhood (Napac) offers support for adults on 0808 801 0331