JPMorgan Claims Virgin Islands Enabled Epstein in Lawsuit Defense

Facts

• In a heavily redacted Manhattan federal court filing, JPMorgan Chase accused the US Virgin Islands of enabling the now-deceased Jeffrey Epstein to abuse women and girls for decades. The allegation was made in a defense against the islands’ lawsuit attempting to hold the bank liable for its business dealing with Epstein.¹
• The bank stated the US Virgin Islands were “complicit in the crimes of Jeffrey Epstein,” adding that the infamous sex criminal bribed powerful officials with money and favors to ignore his sex trafficking scheme.²
• While the Virgin Islands’ lawsuit claims that JPMorgan’s financial services aided Epstein's crimes from 1998 to 2013, the bank argued that the territory’s government had a “quid pro quo” relationship with Epstein “long after” the bank “exited Epstein as a client.”³
• Tuesday’s filing also asked Judge Jed Rakoff to reject the islands’ efforts to exclude JPMorgan’s evidence exposing the complicit relationship with Epstein. Lawyers say Epstein’s influence extended to their enforcement of sex offender laws and their “cursory at best” inspections of his residence.⁴
• A spokesperson from the Virgin Islands attorney general’s office called the accusations “an obvious attempt to shift blame away from JPMorgan Chase.” It's believed that the bank requested the deposition of Virgin Islands governor Albert Bryan who is slated to be deposed next month.⁵
• The Virgin Islands filed its suit in December of last year, and it specifically looks to hold JPMorgan executive Jes Staley accountable for his former client’s crimes. Judge Rakoff’s denial of Staley’s request to toss out the complaint comes days before JPMorgan CEO Jamie Dimon is scheduled to be deposed.⁶

Sources: ¹Al Jazeera, ²CNBC (a), ³Reuters, ⁴Associated Press, ⁵Guardian, and ⁶CNBC (b).

Narratives

• Narrative A, as provided by Daily Wire. JPMorgan is hitting back against the US Virgin Islands, exposing how the territory’s Democratic officials were complicit in Jeffrey Epstein’s sex trafficking by turning a blind eye to his suspicious activity. Epstein used his immense power and wealth to bribe officials into not only allowing his crimes to be swept under the rug but also influencing a change to the territory’s sex offender penalties. The Virgin Islands are in no position to sue JPMorgan given their decades-long relationship with Epstein.
• Narrative B, as provided by Law & Crime. While JPMorgan may be trying to shift blame for its role in Jeffrey Epstein’s sex trafficking, Judge Rakoff was not persuaded as he rejected a petition to throw out the case. There is ample evidence of JPMorgan executives working closely with Epstein even after he was exposed as a monstrous criminal. America’s largest bank cannot deny its extensive relationship with Epstein.