A U.S. judge on Thursday granted preliminary approval to Bank of America’s $72.5 million settlement with women who accused the bank of facilitating Jeffrey Epstein’s sexual abuse, while Lithuanian authorities separately said they are seeking U.S. cooperation in an investigation into potential human trafficking linked to the late financier, according to Reuters. 

U.S. District Judge Jed Rakoff in Manhattan set an August 27 hearing to consider final approval of the Bank of America settlement, which would resolve claims brought by women who said the bank ignored suspicious transactions tied to Epstein because it prioritized profit over protecting victims. The plaintiffs’ lawyer David Boies said he expects between 60 and 75 victims to file claims, according to the report. 

Rakoff said Epstein’s victims should be compensated by anyone who unlawfully facilitated his sex trafficking, but cautioned that liability should not extend to everyone who had contact with him. He said he would continue to scrutinize the deal through the final approval stage, Reuters reported.

The proposed class action was filed in October by a woman using the pseudonym Jane Doe. In January, Rakoff ruled that Bank of America had to face claims that it knowingly benefited from Epstein’s sex trafficking and obstructed enforcement of the federal Trafficking Victims Protection Act, according to Reuters.

Bank of America agreed to settle the case in March while denying that it facilitated sex-trafficking crimes. The bank said the agreement would allow it to move on and provide closure for the accusers. 

The settlement is the latest in a series of civil resolutions involving institutions accused of enabling Epstein. Lawyers for the accusers reached settlements in 2023 worth $290 million with JPMorgan Chase and $75 million with Deutsche Bank. The same lawyers are also appealing Rakoff’s dismissal of a similar lawsuit against Bank of New York Mellon, the news agency said. 

Separately, Reuters reported from Vilnius that Lithuania is preparing a request for legal assistance from the United States as part of an investigation into possible human trafficking with links to Epstein. Prosecutor General Vita Grunskiene said investigators have interviewed about 20 people but have not charged anyone, and urged any possible victims to come forward.

Read more about the proposed Bank of America settlement here

Read more on the Lithuanian investigation here