Jeffrey Epstein trial: Influential millionaire financier accused of abusing dozens of teenagers settles lawsuit

Deal comes hours before jury selection yet to begin

Jeffrey Epstein, multi-millionaire and ex-banker who was sentenced to 18 months in prison (Rex)

A settlement has been reached in a long-running lawsuit involving financier Jeffrey Epstein, who has been accused of sexually abusing a number of teenage girls.

A lawyer for Epstein read an apology from him to attorney Bradley Edwards, who represents some victims. Mr Edwards claimed Epstein tried to damage his reputation by suing him.

“What happened today was a win,” said Mr Edwards at a news conference after the settlement was announced in Palm Beach, Florida.

The deal came just before jury selection was to begin on Tuesday and for now, it means none of the victims of Jeffrey Epstein will be able to testify.

The 65-year-old Epstein pleaded guilty in 2008 to state sex charges, served a year in jail and became a registered sex offender. But in a secret deal with federal prosecutors led by now-Labor Secretary Alexander Acosta,

Epstein avoided a possible life term, and victims were not heard from in court.

“This agreement will not be made part of any public record,” the deal between Epstein and Mr Acosta said. But it became public in 2015, when the document was unsealed by a federal judge in a civil lawsuit.

Associated Press contributed to this report