Jes Staley’s lawyers hit out at ‘slanderous’ attacks by JP Morgan

theguardian.com:

Lawyers working for Jes Staley have accused JP Morgan of “slanderous” attacks against the ex-Barclays boss, saying allegations that he aided sex trafficking operations run by the late billionaire Jeffrey Epstein were “baseless but serious”.

Staley’s lawyer made the comments in a Manhattan district court filing as he urged a judge to give his client more time to review thousands of documents related to JP Morgan’s lawsuit against him, and sever that case from two lawsuits lodged against the US bank over its alleged role in aiding Epstein’s crimes.

The filings argued that the “breakneck pace” of the case schedule, which is set to go to trial on 23 October, was “unnecessary and prejudicial” and would give Staley “grossly insufficient time” to defend himself.

“The allegations against him are baseless but serious: Mr. Staley is accused of aiding and abetting Jeffrey Epstein, one of the most notorious criminals in recent American history,” Staley’s lawyer, Brendan Sullivan, said in the document, adding that the claims were also “slanderous, and the potential damages are astronomical”.

Two lawsuits aimed at JP Morgan claim Staley – who previously worked for the US bank – “observed victims personally”, including “visiting young girls at Epstein’s apartments”, and exchanged 1,200 emails with the late financier that included photos of young women in seductive poses and referring to women by the names of Disney princesses.

Those lawsuits have been brought bythe US Virgin Islands, where much of the abuse is said to have taken place at a home owned by Epstein on a private island, and also by a woman known only as Jane Doe 1.

But the US bank is suing Staley in turn, saying he should be made liable for any penalties the US bank may face as a