Jeffrey Epstein liked to run inpowerful circles.
The trove of emails and documents released by the Justice Department in January show Epstein maintained connections to a wide swath of famous people — fromElon MuskandBill GatestoBill ClintonandDonald Trump.
But Epstein’s own inner circle — unlike his social and professional ones — was kept small and relatively anonymous, while they facilitated his day-to-day operations as a mysteriously wealthy financier.
Epstein’s lawyer, accountant, assistant, pilot, modeling scout, and ex-girlfriend all worked together behind-the-scenes to manage his schedule and appointments, his businesses, properties and compounds across the globe, and, of course, his money.
Members of Epstein’s inner circle have consistently denied any wrongdoing, and say they were unaware of Epstein’s sex trafficking and abuse. Many have remained silent regarding their work for Epstein.
But the millions ofnewly-released documentsfrom the Justice Department reveal fresh insights into Epstein’s relationships with his closest confidantes, and how they helped him maintain his place among the upper echelons of society even after he was convicted of soliciting prostitution from a minor and had to register as a sex offender in 2008.
The documents also reveal how they helped with the day-to-day logistics of Epstein’s life.
Some withdrew cash for Epstein — often tens of thousands of dollars at a time — set up shell companies for him, paid tuition for young women he favored, bought gifts and made travel arrangements for guests who stayed at his various properties. In at least one case, a member of his inner circle installed hidden cameras at an Epstein property.
Others routinely scheduled massages for Epstein – and it was during these massages that Epstein would sexually groom and abuse young girls and women, according to victims.
Together, the names of those in Epstein’s inner circle appear thousands of times across the newly released files. Though they haven’t had the same level of scrutiny that more famous people who appear in the files have received, that may start to change. Over the coming months, several of them are scheduled to testify in front of the House Oversight Committee.
Richard Kahn, Epstein’s longtime accountant, and Darren Indyke, his personal attorney, both of whom are co-executors of Epstein’s estate, are slated to testify on March 11 and March 19. Lesley Groff, Epstein’s executive assistant, was asked by the committee to appear on June 9.
Adiagramproduced by the US government identified some members of Epstein’s inner circle. In the end, federal prosecutors charged only one of them as a co-conspirator: Ghislaine Maxwell, his ex-girlfriend and accomplice who is currentlyserving a 20-year sentencefor federal sex trafficking crimes.
Many in Epstein’s inner circle worked closely with him for years until he was arrested in July 2019. In return, some were remembered in his will to the tune of millions of dollars — though that money has yet to be distributed because the will has not gone into effect yet.
Tracking the firings, resignations and other impacts from the Epstein files
As co-executors of Epstein’s estate, Kahn and Indyke have set up a victims’ compensation fund, whichsays it distributed approximately $125 millionto eligible applicants beforewinding down in 2021.
