US Virgin Islands subpoenas Musk over Epstein sex trafficking lawsuit

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
16 May 2023 09:09

The Virgin Islands demands any documents that Musk has about Epstein’s involvement in human trafficking.

Tesla CEO Elon Musk departs the company’s local office in Washington, US, on January 27, 2023 (Reuters)

The US Virgin Islands subpoenaed Tesla CEO Elon Musk for documents in its lawsuit against JPMorgan Chase for allegedly benefiting financially from late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein's sexual abuses.

Issued on April 28, the subpoena came to light on Monday in a request by the Virgin Islands to serve Musk by alternative means because it had been unable to locate and serve him.

According to the Monday court filing in the US District Court in Manhattan, Musk may have been referred to JPMorgan by Epstein. The Virgin Islands did not provide further explanation for its interest in obtaining documents from Musk.

On Twitter, Musk said on Monday the notion that he would listen to financial advice from Epstein was absurd.

"That cretin never advised me on anything whatsoever," he said, referring to Epstein.

This is idiotic on so many levels:

1. That cretin never advised me on anything whatsoever.

2. The notion that I would need or listen to financial advice from a dumb crook is absurd.

3. JPM let Tesla down ten years ago, despite having Tesla’s global commercial banking…
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) May 16, 2023

Epstein committed suicide in 2019 in a Manhattan jail cell while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges.

In 2022, the Virgin Islands filed a lawsuit against JPMorgan, accusing it of benefiting financially from Epstein's abuse of women on Little St. James, a private island he owned there, and failing to report suspicious financial activity. However, the bank has denied knowledge of Epstein's crimes.

The complaint filed by US Virgin Islands Attorney General Denise George states that "human trafficking was the principal business of the accounts Epstein maintained at JPMorgan."

In the subpoena, the Virgin Islands demanded any documents that Musk has about Epstein’s involvement in human trafficking and his procurement of girls or women for commercial sex.

Additionally, the subpoena sought any communications between the billionaire and JPMorgan about Epstein, as well as between Musk and Epstein. Documents regarding fees paid by Musk to Epstein or JPMorgan also fall under the subpoena.

Musk is the second tech entrepreneur touched by the Virgin Islands lawsuit. Earlier this month, US District Judge Jed Rakoff revealed that the territory may serve legal papers on Larry Page, although his ruling did not specify the information sought from the co-founder of Google.

It is noteworthy that in January, Musk testified that JPMorgan used to handle all of Tesla's commercial banking business, but the relationship got bitter after the bank did not support Tesla's automotive leasing line.