A judge ruled on Monday that JPMorgan Chase Co. and Deutsche Bank AG must face lawsuits alleging the banks knowingly participated in deceased child sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein’s operation, Reuters reported.
Two women, who claim they were sexually assaulted by Epstein, filed lawsuits in November accusing the banks of enabling Epstein’s alleged sex trafficking operation, Reuters reported. The lawsuits allege JP Morgan and Deutsche Bank ignored Epstein’s misconduct because he was an important client and used the banks to send cash payments to his victims, the outlet note. (RELATED: Why Hasn’t Anyone From Jeffrey Epstein’s ‘Little Black Book’ Been Arrested Yet?)
#BREAKING: Deutsche Bank and JPMorgan FAIL in their bid to get lawsuits from Epstein survivors thrown out. Judge Rakoff ruled a few moments ago that the survivors will be allowed to argue that both banks “knowingly benefitted from participating in a sex trafficking venture.” pic.twitter.com/Gd9bM37dJL
— Lucia Osborne-Crowley (@LuciaOC_) March 20, 2023
Epstein was a client of JPMorgan from 2000 – 2013 and Deutsche Bank from 2013 – 2018, Reuters reported. JPMorgan is suing former executive Jes Staley for his alleged relationship with Epstein and blaming him for the bank’s alleged dealings with Epstein.
Manhattan Judge Jed Rakoff also ruled JPMorgan must face a lawsuit from the U.S. Virgin Islands (USVI) for its relationship with Epstein, Reuters reported. The USVI lawsuit accused the bank of turning a “blind eye” to Epstein’s alleged sex trafficking operation, and it was filed shortly after the Virgin Islands’ fined Epstein’s estate $105 million in December.
Rakoff dismissed some of the claims in each of the three lawsuits, but permitted the two women to move forward with their attempt to prove their allegations that the banks benefited financially from having Epstein as a client, Reuters continued. Both banks have denied knowing about Epstein’s alleged sexual abuse and said they had no legal duty to protect the women from him, the outlet added.