JPMorgan Settles Lawsuit with Epstein Victims
JPMorgan Chase has settled a lawsuit with the victims of Jeffrey Epstein, a financier who had been accused of running a sex trafficking operation, and using the bank as his financial conduit. The lawsuit sought to hold JPMorgan financially responsible for Epstein’s abuse of young women and teenage girls.
Epstein Arrested in 2019 on Federal Charges
Epstein was arrested in 2019 on federal charges, which accused him of paying hundreds of dollars to underage girls for massages and then molesting them in his Florida and New York homes. He was found dead in jail on August 10 that year at the age of 66, and a medical examiner ruled his death a suicide.
JPMorgan Allowed Epstein to Operate Despite Knowing About His Participation in Sex Trafficking
According to the lawsuit filed in Manhattan federal court, JPMorgan provided Epstein loans and allowed him to withdraw large sums of cash from 1998 to August 2013. Despite knowing about Epstein’s participation in sex trafficking, the bank continued to count Epstein as a client.
Settlement Comes on the Same Day That Judge Granted Lawsuit Class-Action Status
The lawsuit filed by an anonymous victim referred to as Jane Doe, who claimed that she was sexually abused by Epstein from 2006 to 2013, has been granted class-action status, which means future awards would be granted to other victims as well. JPMorgan Chase has expressed regret that Epstein was a client of the bank, and stated that if they had believed he was using the bank in any way to help commit heinous crimes, they would never have continued to do business with him.
The Lawsuit Settled But a Pending Lawsuit Remains
The terms of the settlement were not disclosed, and lawsuits are still pending between the U.S. Virgin Islands and JPMorgan Chase. The bank is also pursuing its lawsuit against former executive Jes Staley, who allegedly hid Epstein’s crimes to keep him as a client. Staley left JPMorgan in 2013 to become the CEO of Barclays, but stepped down in 2021 due to his prior relationship with Epstein.
Conclusion
JPMorgan Chase has reached a settlement with the victims of Jeffrey Epstein. The bank has expressed its regret over doing business with Epstein and has said that it is pursuing legal action against its former executive Jes Staley for allegedly hiding Epstein’s crimes. The terms of the settlement have not been disclosed, and lawsuits are still pending.
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