The estate of Jeffrey Epstein has established a compensation fund to provide benefits to multiple girls and women who were allegedly subjected to sexual abuse and sex trafficking by the late financier.

After months of negotiation with victims, the estate of Jeffrey Epstein has finally established a victims compensation fund. Now, that compensation fund has received approval form a US Virgin Islands probate judge.

CNN explains that victims can now submit claims for benefits. The fund for will reportedly be administered by Joanna Feldman, the former deputy special master for the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund. The Epstein estate will reportedly not interfere with the administration of the fund.

For the Jeffrey Epstein sexual abuse victim compensation fund, Feldman will determine what claims are approved or denied, as well as the amount awarded to each victim.

There is no cap on the amount that any victim can receive from the fund, as long as there are still estate funds available. According to The Washington Post, Epstein’s estate is determined to be worth over $577 million.

The amounts awarded will depend on a number of factors, including the nature, severity, and duration of the abuse allegedly suffered. The Esptein Victims’ Compensation Program website provides more details about the factors that will inform Feldman’s decision about how to award benefits.

Who Can File a Claim to the Fund?

Any person who was abused by Epstein can file a claim. According to CNN, victims can file regardless of if they have filed a lawsuit against Epstein or his estate or not, or if they have never taken legal action over the alleged abuse.

Victims do not have to stop legal proceedings to file a claim if they are in the process of suing over their alleged abuse. However, if a victim does accept compensation from the fund, they will have to waive their right to pursue litigation going forward. 

The deadline to file a claim for compensation from the fund is March 25, 2021, explains the website. 

The Washington Post explains that Jeffrey Epstein has been accused of abusing both girls and women in a range of ways, including through sex trafficking. Some women claim that he would lure them in with offers of financial and career help, and then abuse them. Allegedly, he would pay some of the women after abusing them. Some women claim that staff members were aware of and even a part of the abuse.

CNN elaborates, saying that victims assert that Epstein engaged in sex trafficking, forcing young women to engage in sex work. He has been accused of transporting girls to a home in the U.S. Virgin Islands, from where he would then force them to do sex work. Allegedly, this occurred between 2001 and 2018. 

CNN notes that Esptein was also charged with conducting a sex trafficking scheme out of two more of his homes — in Palm Beach, Florida, and Manhattan.

He was arrested in July 2019 on sex trafficking charges, to which he pled not guilty. According to the Washington Post, he had gotten off with a plea deal in 2008 from sex trafficking charges similar to those for which he was arrested in 2019. The 2008 plea deal has received criticism for being not severe enough, says the Wall Street Journal. 

After his arrest, he was found dead in his cell. Though the medical examiner ruled Epstein’s death a suicide, saying he had hanged himself, Epstein’s lawyers reject this determination. 

Now, an independent investigation is been conducted, as well as one by the FBI and the Justice Department. The government reportedly aims to determine if the Federal Bureau of Prisons should have been able to prevent Epstein’s death. 

This article is not legal advice. It is presented
for informational purposes only.