Accuser sues Epstein’s estate

The same day a new law governing child sexual abuse cases went into effect in New York, one of Jeffrey Epstein’s alleged victims used it to sue the late billionaire’s estate and several of his associates. Jennifer Araoz, now 32, filed a complaint alleging that Epstein groomed and raped her when she was 15 years old. She said one of Epstein’s accomplices introduced her to him when she was a 14-year-old high school freshman.

What does the new law change? Previously, the state could prosecute child sexual abuse offenders only within five years of the incident, and victims could file civil lawsuits before he or she turned 21. The New York Child Victims Act suspends the statute of limitations for child abuse cases for a year, allowing Araoz to bring her suit. She intended to sue Epstein himself, but the billionaire was found dead from an apparent suicide in his jail cell Saturday morning, leading to a U.S. Department of Justice investigation.

Dig deeper: Araoz wrote a New York Times opinion column explaining how Epstein’s accomplices enabled his abusive behavior. (Note: The graphic details revealed in the column may be disturbing for some readers).