Epstein’s longtime accountant testifies he was ‘not conscious’ of intercourse offender’s crimes : NPR

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Getty Photos/Tom Williams Richard Kahn, Jeffrey Epstein's former accountant, testified earlier than the Home Oversight Committee in a closed-door deposition Wednesday, telling lawmakers that he was "not conscious" of Epstein's crimes and regrets that he might have "unknowingly assisted Epstein in any method."

"Whereas Epstein was alive, I by no means noticed any sexual abuse or trafficking of ladies and by no means obtained a grievance—both by one in all Epstein's victims or anybody else—of such abuse or trafficking," Kahn mentioned, in line with a replica of his ready opening assertion obtained by NPR.

The Republican-led committee subpoenaed Kahn, who began working as Epstein's accountant in 2005 and remained a detailed confidant till his loss of life in 2019.

Two days earlier than his loss of life, Epstein made Kahn a co-executor of his property, together with Darren Indyke, Epstein's former legal professional. Each are named as beneficiaries of Epstein's property.

California Rep. Robert Garcia, the highest Democrat on the committee, mentioned in an announcement after the deposition that together with managing Epstein's operations, Kahn admitted to facilitating a pretend marriage between two ladies, impersonating Epstein in communications with banks, and "confirmed Epstein spoke about Donald Trump 'rather a lot.'"

"Jeffrey Epstein's huge intercourse trafficking ring wouldn't have been potential with out the constant funds and providers of his long-time accountant Richard Kahn," Garcia mentioned. "It is not credible that he had no data of Epstein's actions, and his testimony at the moment solely raises extra questions. Oversight Democrats will not cease preventing till we get justice for the survivors and finish this White Home cover-up."

Committee Chair, Kentucky Republican Rep. James Comer, informed reporters that Kahn had answered each query after two hours of deposition.

Comer mentioned that Kahn "confirmed there have been 5 shoppers who paid cash to Epstein." These shoppers had been former Victoria's Secret CEO Les Wexner, former Apollo International Administration CEO Leon Black, former Microsoft Home windows Division President Steven Sinofsky, hedge fund investor Glenn Dubin, and the Rothschild household.

Comer added that Kahn testified that "he had by no means seen any kind of transaction to [President Donald] Trump or anybody in his household," Comer mentioned. "That makes the fifth witness now that is testified underneath oath that they've by no means seen any involvement by Donald Trump or [his] household."

"The investigation is about getting the reality to the American individuals," Comer mentioned. "Attempting to determine how the federal government failed, answering questions all of us have – Was he an agent? Was our authorities concerned in any kind of coverup?"

Kahn is talked about greater than 50,000 instances within the Division of Justice information launched on Epstein. Over greater than a decade, Kahn managed Epstein's funds via his firm HBRK Associates Inc., advising on quite a few transactions, together with medical reimbursements for the "women" and vouching for Epstein on flagged tuition funds.

Kahn mentioned in his opening assertion that any items made by Epstein to ladies or males had been a "very small fraction of Epstein's spending" and he "didn't see them as purple flags for abuse or trafficking."

Since Epstein's loss of life, Kahn and Indyke, Epstein's former legal professional, have managed settlements from Epstein's property to his victims. The Epstein Victims' Compensation Fund awarded over $121 million to greater than 135 survivors, in line with the Related Press. The fund is now closed, an administrator for the fund mentioned in 2021.

Each Kahn and Indyke have confronted intense scrutiny about their alleged involvement in Epstein's sexual trafficking community.

In his opening assertion launched throughout the deposition, Kahn mentioned he needed to "set the document straight."

"Within the years that I supplied exterior accounting and bookkeeping providers for Jeffrey Epstein, I used to be not conscious of the horrible and unforgivable issues that he did to ladies and women," Kahn mentioned. "My relationship with Epstein was strictly on an expert stage."

As for Epstein's 2006 arrest, which occurred quickly after Kahn started working for him, Kahn mentioned Epstein known as it a "mistake, that he didn't know the lady was underage, and that nothing like that may occur once more."

"I believed him on the time and by no means noticed what seemed to be a minor in his presence," Kahn mentioned. "Had I discovered of any of his horrific habits, I'd have stop work instantly."