JPMorgan Chase executives allegedly joked about Jeffrey Epstein’s curiosity in younger women whereas the disgraced financier was a shopper of the US banking large, attorneys for the US Virgin Islands have claimed in a brand new courtroom submitting.
The accusation is a part of an increasing lawsuit introduced by the USVI, the place Epstein had a house, which accuses JPMorgan of benefiting from his intercourse trafficking operation whereas he was a shopper of the financial institution till 2013. Legal professionals for JPMorgan have beforehand described the claims as meritless.
In an amended criticism filed in New York on Monday, the USVI alleged that Epstein’s behaviour “was so extensively recognized at JPMorgan that senior executives joked about Epstein’s curiosity in younger women”.
The submitting refers to a 2008 e mail to Mary Erdoes, the contents of that are redacted. Erdoes, a 27-year JPMorgan veteran, runs the asset and wealth administration division the place Epstein was a shopper.
JPMorgan declined to touch upon the submitting. In a press release final month, the financial institution mentioned Erdoes “at all times acted with the best ranges of integrity and professionalism” and had “knowledgeable this shopper 10 years in the past that his relationship with our agency was being terminated”.
JPMorgan is going through two lawsuits relating to its dealings with Epstein, one from the USVI and one other introduced by an alleged Epstein sufferer often known as Jane Doe. The 2 instances have been mixed for pre-trial functions, with a provisional trial date set for October.
Erdoes was questioned underneath oath as a part of the pre-trial proceedings. Final week, the Monetary Instances reported that longstanding chief govt Jamie Dimon will in May additionally be deposed, regardless of makes an attempt by the financial institution to stop him from having to testify.
The USVI’s criticism incorporates an inside communication which references a “Dimon assessment”, into the connection with Epstein, of which the financial institution says it has no file.
Jes Staley, a former senior govt for JPMorgan, whom the financial institution has sued claiming he withheld particulars of his relationship with Epstein and information of the disgraced financier’s intercourse crimes, will in April even be deposed. Staley went on to steer Barclays financial institution within the UK, and left following a regulatory investigation into the way in which wherein he had characterised his relationship with Epstein. Staley has beforehand denied having any involvement in Epstein’s crimes or misrepresenting their relationship.
Final week, the USVI additionally issued subpoenas for paperwork to Google co-founder Sergey Brin, in addition to Thomas Pritzker, the chair of Hyatt Lodges, as a part of the evidence-gathering course of within the case in opposition to JPMorgan, an individual immediately concerned mentioned.
Information of the subpoenas, which have been additionally despatched to actual property and media mogul Mortimer Zuckerman and Hollywood super-agent Michael Ovitz, have been first reported by The Wall Avenue Journal.
Ovitz and Brin didn’t instantly reply to a request for remark. Representatives for Hyatt didn’t instantly reply to a request for touch upon Pritzker’s behalf, nor did a consultant for considered one of Zuckerman’s philanthropic organisations.
The aim of the subpoenas is unknown. The USVI’s criticism has alleged that in addition to depositing his personal cash at JPMorgan, Epstein helped introduce rich purchasers to the financial institution.
