Originally published August 2, 2023 4:00 pm PDT
Jeffrey Epstein reportedly referred high net-worth clients, including Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates, businessman Elon Musk, and Google co-founder Sergey Brin, to JPMorgan Chase.
QUICK FACTS:
- Late financing mogul and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein referred wealthy people, including Bill Gates and Elon Musk, to JPMorgan Chase, a former Chase executive has confirmed.
- During a recent deposition, Jes Staley admitted under oath that Epstein also connected David Gergen, former adviser to Presidents Richard Nixon, Gerald Ford, Ronald Reagan, and Bill Clinton, and businessman Thomas Pritzker, cousin of current Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker to JPMorgan.
- According to Staley, while Epstein was not paid to refer these individuals to the bank, he did so to boost his network.
- “I think he valued his network of contacts, and introducing me to Tom, vice versa, enhanced that network for him,” Staley said, referring to the connection with Pritzker.
- JPMorgan acknowledged in a separate filing that Epstein referred people to the bank, but denied knowledge of referrals of specific individuals, including Mr. Pritzker.
JPMORGAN CHASE SPOKESPERSON ON THE COMPANY’S “REGRET” OVER ASSOCIATION WITH JEFFREY EPSTEIN:
“Any association with him was a mistake and we regret it. We would never have continued to do business with him if we believed he was using our bank in any way to help commit heinous crimes,” the spokesperson said.
BACKGROUND:
- In June 2023, JPMorgan Chase agreed to settle with victims of Epstein, as confirmed by a joint statement.
- Epstein, who passed away at age 66 in federal prison while facing trial on charges of sex trafficking minors, had accounts at JPMorgan since 2000.
- The bank agreed to pay about $290 million to settle a class action lawsuit by victims of Epstein, according to a person familiar with the matter, Reuters cited.
- The bank had been accused by several women of facilitating Epstein’s illegal sex trafficking operations.
- A spokesperson for JPMorgan Chase communicated the bank’s stance on the matter to The Epoch Times: “We all now understand that Epstein’s behavior was monstrous, and we believe this settlement is in the best interest of all parties, especially the survivors, who suffered unimaginable abuse at the hands of this man.”
- She continued, stating that any association with Epstein was a grave error and expressed regret. “We would never have continued to do business with him if we believed he was using our bank in any way to help commit heinous crimes.”
