Epstein signed will two days before suicide in jail

Jeffrey Epstein signed a will two days before he killed himself in jail, opening a new legal front for the pedophile’s fortune

Jeffrey Epstein as seen on the New York state sex offender registry. Picture: AP

Jeffrey Epstein signed a will two days before he killed himself in jail, opening a new legal front in what could be a long battle over the paedophile financier’s fortune.

Court papers filed last week in the US Virgin Islands list no ­details of beneficiaries but valued the estate at more than $US577 million ($850m), including more than $US56m in cash.

The existence of the will, first reported by The New York Post, raised new questions about ­Epstein’s final days inside Manhattan’s Metropolitan Correctional Centre, where he was awaiting trial on federal sex trafficking and conspiracy charges.

Epstein signed the document on August 8. Less than 48 hours later, he was found dead in his cell, prompting an investigation that has cast a harsh light on staffing shortages at the jail. Attorney-General William Barr yesterday removed acting Federal Bureau of Prisons director Hugh Hurwitz.

Prosecutors moved to dismiss the indictment against Epstein but have said they were considering charging others with facilitating his alleged abuse of dozens of girls.

The filing of the will had been closely followed by lawyers representing women who claim they were sexually abused by Epstein when they were teenagers and ­recruited into his residences to provide him massages. Several lawyers vowed to go after his assets even if the will had named beneficiaries. One woman filed suit against the estate last week, claiming Epstein repeatedly raped her when she was a teenager.

“Give his entire estate to his victims. It is the only justice they can get,” said lawyer Lisa Bloom. “And they deserve it. And on ­behalf of the Epstein victims I ­represent, I intend to fight for it.”

Former federal prosecutor David S. Weinstein, who is now in private practice in Miami, said states and US territories had certain timeframes within which to make a claim against an estate.

“There are certainly going to be a lot of lawyers involved,” Mr Weinstein said. “It’s not going to be over any time soon.”

Epstein had more than $US112m worth of equities, ­according to the will, and nearly $US200m in “hedge funds and private equity investments”. Among the assets that will be subject to appraisal and valuation are his collection of fine arts, antiques and other collectibles.

As part of his 2008 plea deal to Florida state charges, Epstein made undisclosed financial settlements with dozens of his victims.

It is unclear how those settlements might affect any claims made on his estate.

William Blum, a lawyer for ­Epstein’s estate, said any debts or claims against the estate would be “fairly administered”.

He said the document was ­Epstein’s original last will.

AP