JPMorgan, US Virgin Islands unveil new claims in Epstein lawsuit

The U.S. Virgin Islands added to its allegations against JPMorgan regarding Jeffrey Epstein and his sexual abuse of young women and teenage girls. The territory has sued the bank for $190 million, accusing it of ignoring red flags about Epstein because he was a wealthy and lucrative client from 1998 to 2013.

Ahead of a trial that’s set to begin in October of 2023, the U.S. Virgin Islands requested the judge declare that JPMorgan participated in Epstein’s sex trafficking and obstructed law enforcement.

Documents filed by the territory in court on Monday, July 24, included more than $25 million in payments to Epstein’s associate Ghislaine Maxwell, as well as hundreds of thousands of dollars paid to Epstein’s victims.

The territory also quoted a 2012 email where JPMorgan executives discussed about Epstein surrounding himself with “nymphettes.” The email was sent from a senior executive to Mary Erdoes, who is now the bank’s asset and wealth management chief. The executive was comparing another client’s house to Epstein’s.

“Reminded me of JE’s house, except it was more tasteful, and fewer nymphettes,” the executive wrote. “More like the Frick [museum]. Art was fabulous.”

The bank countered that the U.S. Virgin Islands was also to blame, saying the territory used its powers to enable Epstein’s crimes. JPMorgan accused the territory of facilitating visas that allowed Epstein to bring victims, and of “looking the other way” whenever Epstein arrived at local airports accompanied by young women and girls.

The bank wants the judge to declare that the territory should not be able to seek monetary relief, and that its claim the bank obstructed law enforcement be denied. Top U.S. Virgin Islands officials have been accused of giving Epstein tax breaks and waiving sex-offender monitoring requirements in exchange for cash and gifts.

Epstein had owned two private islands within the territory. He allegedly bought the second to keep people from spying on his sexual abuse on the first.