Jeffrey Epstein banks to face sex trafficking case

Two banks connected with the precocious Jeffrey Epstein volition look lawsuits implicit claims they enabled his enactment trafficking, a US tribunal has ruled.

Two women who accidental the financier sexually abused them brought the lawsuit against JP Morgan Chase and Deutsche Bank.

Judge Jed Rakoff besides gave the go-ahead to a lawsuit against JP Morgan from the US Virgin Islands.

The banks contradict being alert of Epstein's abuses.

In a four-page bid Judge Rakoff wrote that the women and Virgin Islands authorities could effort to marque the lawsuit the banks had "knowingly benefited from participating successful a enactment trafficking venture".

He besides allowed the women to prosecute claims the banks were negligent and obstructed enforcement of a national anti-trafficking law.

He dismissed immoderate of the different claims.

The determination means the banks could beryllium financially liable for their relationships with the American financier if the claims are proven successful court.

Epstein, who died successful situation successful 2019 portion awaiting proceedings connected charges of enactment trafficking, was a lawsuit of JPMorgan from 2000 to 2013, and of Deutsche Bank from 2013 to 2018.

JPMorgan and Deutsche Bank, which had some sought to person the lawsuits dismissed, declined to remark connected the caller ruling to Reuters.

The determination comes aft JP Morgan filed a suit against Jess Staley, who handled Epstein's concern arsenic a elder enforcement astatine the bank, accusing him of failing to disclose perchance damaging accusation astir his client.

Mr Staley went connected to service arsenic main enforcement of Barclays aft leaving JP Morgan. He stepped down successful 2021 aft an probe into his ties to Epstein.

At the clip helium said helium would contention the findings.

Epstein, who had been convicted successful 2008 for soliciting prostitution from a minor, had socialised with Prince Andrew, erstwhile presidents Donald Trump and Bill Clinton and titans of the concern world.

Prosecutors successful 2019 accused him of moving a "vast network" of underage girls for sex.