JPMorgan ignored Epstein's 'nymphettes,' US Virgin Islands says
NEW YORK (Reuters) — The U.S. Virgin Islands unveiled new accusations against JPMorgan Chase (NYSE:JPM) over the bank's ties to former client Jeffrey Epstein, including executives discussing how the disgraced late financier surrounded himself with «nymphettes.»
JPMorgan countered that the U.S. Virgin Islands was also to blame for allowing Epstein's sexual abuse of young women and teenage girls, saying the territory used its powers to enable these crimes.
The bank 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.
Both sets of accusations were made in dueling Monday night filings in Manhattan federal court.
The U.S. Virgin Islands is suing JPMorgan for at least $190 million, saying the bank ignored red flags about Epstein because he was a wealthy and lucrative client from 1998 to 2013.
Ahead of a scheduled Oct. 23 trial, the U.S. Virgin Islands wants a judge to declare that JPMorgan participated in Epstein's sex trafficking and obstructed law enforcement.
Its filings include many new details about the New York-based bank's alleged conduct, including more than $25 million of payments to Epstein's associate Ghislaine Maxwell, and hundreds of thousands of dollars paid to Epstein's victims.
They also quoted a Sept 2012 email from a senior JPMorgan executive to Mary Erdoes, now the bank's asset and wealth management chief, 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.»
«Wow,» Erdoes responded.
JPMorgan, in contrast, wants the judge to
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