Might 25 (Reuters) – JPMorgan Chase & Co (JPM.N) on Thursday unveiled new accusations that the U.S. Virgin Islands was complicit in Jeffrey Epstein’s intercourse crimes, together with {that a} former first girl for the territory sought pupil visas for among the disgraced financier’s victims.
The biggest U.S. financial institution additionally singled out Governor Albert Bryan as being amongst authorities officers who maintained “shut ties” with Epstein, saying that in 2018 he organized donations from Epstein to varsities and little leagues.
JPMorgan made the accusations in a submitting in Manhattan federal courtroom, the place the U.S. Virgin Islands needs the financial institution held liable in a civil lawsuit for preserving Epstein as a shopper from 1998 to 2013, the final 5 years after he pleaded responsible to prostitution.
The New York-based financial institution has countered that the territory had “unclean fingers” for safeguarding Epstein, who died in 2019, and awarding him hundreds of thousands of {dollars} in tax breaks in change for his “cash, recommendation, affect, and favors.”
A spokesperson for the U.S. Virgin Islands’ lawyer basic’s workplace known as the brand new accusations “an apparent try to shift blame,” repeating an earlier assertion. Bryan’s workplace didn’t instantly reply to requests for remark.
Thursday’s submitting was partially redacted, however had fewer redactions than a model filed on Tuesday.
JPMorgan additionally faces a proposed class motion by ladies who say Epstein sexually abused them, and that the financial institution ought to have minimize ties with him sooner.
Epstein, 66, died in a Manhattan jail cell in August 2019 whereas awaiting trial for intercourse trafficking.
The town’s health worker known as Epstein’s loss of life a suicide. Epstein’s former girlfriend Ghislaine Maxwell is interesting her conviction and 20-year jail sentence for aiding in his sexual abuses.
‘WILL IT WORK FOR YOU?’
A lot of JPMorgan’s new accusations concern Cecile de Jongh, whose husband, John de Jongh, was governor from 2007 to 2015.
The financial institution known as the previous first girl Epstein’s “main conduit for spreading cash and affect all through the USVI authorities,” and “a prepared accomplice” in his need to take advantage of younger ladies.
E mail requests for remark from Cecile and John de Jongh weren’t instantly acknowledged. Neither is a celebration to the litigation.
The financial institution stated de Jongh as soon as organized for Epstein to satisfy an area immigration lawyer to assist one lady receive a visa, and requested an area college whether or not three ladies might enroll there to acquire pupil visas.
JPMorgan additionally stated de Jongh managed Epstein’s native corporations all through her husband’s governorship, with Epstein paying their youngsters’s tuition, and labored with Epstein in 2011 when the U.S. Virgin Islands was drafting new intercourse offender legal guidelines.
“That is the advised language; will it be just right for you?” de Jongh requested Epstein in a Might 2011 e mail, in keeping with JPMorgan.
The financial institution’s chief government, Jamie Dimon, who will not be a defendant, is predicted to testify underneath oath in a deposition on Friday. Bryan faces a June 6 deposition.
JPMorgan is individually suing Jes Staley, a former Epstein pal who as soon as led its asset administration enterprise, to have him cowl losses it might incur within the different two lawsuits.
The case is Authorities of the U.S. Virgin Islands v. JPMorgan Chase Financial institution NA, U.S. District Courtroom, Southern District of New York, No. 22-10904.
Reporting by Jonathan Stempel in Chicago
Enhancing by Matthew Lewis
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