Epstein estate's $35 million settlement with accusers wins preliminary judge approval

Protesters and members of the news media gather outside Manhattan Federal Court, during the arraignment hearing of Ghislaine Maxwell for her role in the sexual exploitation and abuse of minor girls by Jeffrey Epstein, in the Manhattan borough of New York City, New York, U.S. July 14, 2020. REUTERS/Mike Segar

NEW YORK, March 3 (Reuters) - ⁠A U.S. judge granted preliminary approval on Tuesday to an agreement for Jeffrey Epstein's ⁠estate to pay as much as $35 million to resolve a class action lawsuit ‌that accused two of the disgraced financier's advisers of aiding and abetting his sex trafficking of young women and teenage girls.

Boies Schiller Flexner, a law firm representing Epstein victims, announced the settlement on February 19. On Tuesday, Manhattan-based U.S. District ​Judge Arun Subramanian said the agreement appeared fair. The judge ⁠scheduled a hearing for September 16 ⁠to consider granting final approval.