Reuters reported that a judge ruled Monday that JPMorgan Chase Co., and Deutsche Bank AG must face lawsuits alleging they knowingly participated in Jeffrey Epstein’s operation as a child sex dealer.
Two women who claim Epstein sexually assaulted them filed lawsuits against the banks in November, Reuters reported. They accuse Epstein of enabling sex trafficking operations. According to Reuters, Epstein was a client of JP Morgan and Deutsche Bank and used these banks to pay his victims.
Reuters reported that Epstein was a JPMorgan client from 2000 to 2013 and Deutsche Bank between 2013 and 2018. JPMorgan is suing Jes Staley, a former executive, for his alleged relationship to Epstein. He also claims that he was responsible for the bank’s alleged dealings in Epstein.
Reuters reported that Manhattan Judge Jed Rakoff ruled JPMorgan must be sued by the U.S. Virgin Islands for its relationship to Epstein. The USVI lawsuit alleged that the bank turned a “blind eye” to Epstein’s sex trafficking operations. It was filed just after Epstein’s estate was fined $105 million by the Virgin Islands in December.
Rakoff dismissed certain claims in each of three lawsuits but allowed the women to continue their claim that Epstein was a client of the banks. Reuters continues. The outlet reported that both banks denied knowledge of Epstein’s alleged sexual abuse, and claimed they did not have a legal duty to protect the women.
