JPMorgan Processed $1 Billion for Epstein Despite Sex Trafficking Warnings

JPMorgan Chase maintained a lucrative relationship with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein for over a decade despite repeated internal warnings about suspicious activities, including large cash withdrawals and potential sex trafficking. Epstein, a prized client with over $200 million in deposits, brokered significant deals like JPMorgan's $1.3 billion acquisition of Highbridge Capital, earning millions, and introduced influential clients to the bank. Senior bank executives, including Jes Staley who defended Epstein, repeatedly overrode compliance objections and resisted cutting ties even after Epstein's 2008 guilty plea to soliciting a minor. Internal anti-money laundering teams flagged thousands of Epstein’s transactions as suspicious, yet the bank only filed a report with federal regulators in 2019 after Epstein's arrest. CEO Jamie Dimon testified he was unaware of Epstein's client status until 2019, though documents suggest otherwise. JPMorgan ultimately closed Epstein's accounts in 2013, but the bank faced criticism for enabling his operations and failing to act on early red flags.