The Facts
In a heavily redacted Manhattan federal court filing, JPMorgan Chase accused the US Virgin Islands of enabling the now-deceased Jeffrey Epstein to abuse women and girls for decades. The allegation was made in a defense against the islands’ lawsuit attempting to hold the bank liable for its business dealing with Epstein.
The bank stated the US Virgin Islands were “complicit in the crimes of Jeffrey Epstein,” adding that the infamous sex criminal bribed powerful officials with money and favors to ignore his sex trafficking scheme.
The Spin
Narrative A
JPMorgan is hitting back against the US Virgin Islands, exposing how the territory’s Democratic officials were complicit in Epstein’s sex trafficking by turning a blind eye to his suspicious activity. Epstein used his immense power and wealth to bribe officials into not only allowing his crimes to be swept under the rug but also influencing a change to the territory’s sex offender penalties. The Virgin Islands are in no position to sue JPMorgan.
Narrative B
While JPMorgan may be trying to shift blame for its role in Epstein’s sex trafficking, Rakoff was not persuaded as he rejected a petition to throw out the case. There is ample evidence of JPMorgan executives working closely with Epstein even after he was exposed as a monstrous criminal. America’s largest bank cannot deny its extensive relationship with Epstein.
