US Virgin Islands fires attorney general in Epstein cases

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) — The governor of the US Virgin Islands has fired the attorney general of the American territory who pursued various cases against disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein, including a lengthy legal fight that resulted in a US$105 million settlement.

The removal of Denise George comes just days after she filed a lawsuit against JPMorgan Chase in New York and accused the company of helping Epstein finance the illegal exploitation of women and children in the US Virgin Islands and beyond.

Governor Albert Bryan Jr. did not provide a reason for relieving George of her duties in a statement Sunday, saying only that she would be replaced by Assistant Attorney General Carol Thomas-Jacobs.

Governor spokesman Richard Motta did not return a message for comment, nor did executive assistant to the attorney general Jennifer Springette.

In the lawsuit filed against JPMorgan Chase on December 27, the government of the US Virgin Islands alleges the company “knowingly facilitated, sustained, and concealed the human trafficking network operated by Jeffrey Epstein from his home and base in the Virgin Islands, and financially benefited from this participation, directly or indirectly, by failing to comply with federal banking regulations.”

It also alleges that the company concealed wire and cash transactions.

“Human trafficking was the principal business of the accounts Epstein maintained at JP Morgan,” the lawsuit reads.

“JP Morgan turned a blind eye to evidence of human trafficking over more than a decade because of Epstein's own financial footprint, and because of the deals and clients that Epstein brought and promised to bring to the bank.”

A JPMorgan Chase spokeswoman declined comment in a message Tuesday to The Associated Press.

On December 30, JPMorgan Chase asked that a federal judge throw out lawsuits filed by two unidentified women alleging that big banks should have seen evidence of Epstein's sex trafficking. The bank also said it didn't commit any negligent acts.

The lawsuit that George filed against JPMorgan Chase comes after Epstein's estate reached the US$105 million settlement with the US Virgin Island's government in late November.

The Virgin Islands Daily News, a local newspaper, reported that Epstein had made various donations to schools and organisations across the US territory and that the island's former first lady was the office manager for one of his companies, Southern Trust.

It also noted that Bryan, the governor, had granted Epstein's company various hefty tax exemptions when he served as chairman of the Economic Development Commission.

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