Jeffrey Epstein’s banks seek to end accusers’ lawsuits

JPMorgan Chase & Co and Deutsche Bank AG called on a US judge to dismiss lawsuits by victims of Jeffrey Epstein who accused the banks of enabling the late financier’s sexual abuses.

Both requests were filed on Tuesday night in Manhattan federal court, in proposed class action lawsuits by unnamed victims seeking financial damages.

The banks said there were no allegations they knew about or actively did anything to further Epstein’s sex trafficking, and had no legal duty to protect the women from his abuses.

Epstein was a client of JPMorgan from about 2000 to 2013, and of Deutsche Bank from 2013 to 2018. The plaintiffs have said numerous cash payments from the banks were used to pay Epstein’s victims.

JPMorgan’s filing was also that bank’s most extensive discussion of the alleged role of former investment banking chief Jes Staley, including an allegation he had “personally observed” Epstein’s abuse of the plaintiff known as Jane Doe 1.

Staley is not a defendant and has denied wrongdoing.