A month after Jeffrey Epstein’s 2019 death, JPMorgan Chase reported over $1 billion in suspicious transactions linked to him, according to newly unsealed court documents. The filings, part of a lawsuit with the US Virgin Islands, detail years of questionable activity involving Wall Street figures, Russian banks, and global elites. The revelations renew scrutiny over how long financial institutions and authorities ignored red flags surrounding Epstein’s vast financial network.
Bank Reported Billion-Dollar Activity
On September 26, 2019, JPMorgan Chase filed a Suspicious Activity Report (SAR) with the US Treasury Department, detailing more than $1 billion in Epstein’s transactions from 2003 to 2019. The report cited Epstein’s extensive dealings with multiple companies, major financial figures, and Russian banks Alfa Bank and Sberbank. The bank said it filed the report due to “negative media” about Epstein’s sex trafficking allegations, his alleged misuse of funds, and his ties to two US presidents.
Arrest, Death, and Fallout
Epstein was arrested in July 2019 on sex trafficking charges involving underage girls. He died weeks later by suicide in a Manhattan jail cell while awaiting trial. His death sparked outrage and conspiracy theories, intensifying global demands for transparency. Judge Jed Rakoff later ordered the unsealing of the records following petitions from The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal. In 2023, JPMorgan settled lawsuits related to Epstein for $365 million in total, without admitting wrongdoing.
A Global Demand for Accountability
The newly released documents have reignited worldwide scrutiny of Epstein’s powerful network. Public pressure on US authorities continues to mount as people demand answers about how Epstein operated for years. In Britain, King Charles stripped Prince Andrew of his royal title, a move widely seen as a direct consequence of the scandal. Meanwhile, the US Justice Department faces increasing calls to release more information about its Epstein investigation as House lawmakers conduct their own probes.
Jes Staley’s Ties Under Spotlight
Among the unsealed materials are emails between Epstein and Jes Staley, a top JPMorgan executive who later resigned as head of Barclays in 2021. Staley admitted in court to having sex with one of Epstein’s assistants but denied knowing about Epstein’s abuse of minors. The emails show Epstein offering to connect Staley with powerful figures, including Google’s co-founders and world leaders, though none of those individuals have been accused of wrongdoing.
JPMorgan’s Role and Earlier Warnings
JPMorgan had previously filed multiple SARs about Epstein before his death, dating back to as early as 2002. The bank ended its relationship with him in 2013, five years after his 2008 plea deal for prostitution-related charges in Florida. The unsealed reports show that JPMorgan officials internally circulated media articles about Epstein’s alleged crimes and filed reports whenever red flags arose. “The SARs confirm what’s been inferred all along,” said Patricia Wexler, a JPMorgan spokesperson. “It does not appear that anyone in the government or law enforcement acted on those SARs for years.”
Financial Giants Named in Files
The documents mention Leon Black, a Wall Street billionaire and long-time associate of Epstein. Black’s lawyer, Susan Estrich, defended him, stating, “Mr. Black paid Epstein only for tax and estate planning advice. To imply Epstein had influence over him is false.” She added that Black severed ties with Epstein over “excessive fees” and had “no knowledge of his criminal activities.” The records also include emails referencing a 2010 meeting between Epstein, Staley, and then-Prince Andrew, who sent holiday greetings to Staley that same year.
Congressional and Legal Pressure
Senator Ron Wyden has demanded that JPMorgan hand over full banking records related to Epstein, suggesting the bank ignored his crimes for profit. In response, JPMorgan insisted that “except for former executive Jes Staley,” its leaders acted with integrity. “The Firm deeply regrets having had Epstein as a client,” the bank stated, “and would never have continued doing business with him if it believed he engaged in ongoing criminal conduct.”