Democracy Now! Jeffrey Epstein & JPMorgan: How the Largest US Bank Enabled the Sexual Predator's Crimes

Sep 9, 2025 | Amid growing pressure for the Trump administration to release the full Jeffrey Epstein files, a New York Times investigation reveals how the country's largest bank, JPMorgan Chase, enabled Epstein's sex-trafficking operation and profited from its ties to him. The exposé is based on more than 13,000 pages of legal and financial records. The Times reports JPMorgan processed more than 4,700 transactions for Epstein totaling more than $1.1 billion, including payments to some of the women who were sexually trafficked. The bank "arranged for Epstein to be able to pay those victims, both in the U.S. and in Eastern European countries and in Russia," says David Enrich, deputy investigations editor for The New York Times. Epstein "operated in large part because he had unfettered access to the global financial system. And for many years, it was JPMorgan that was providing him with that access."

Is every bastard at the top corrupt these days? It sure seems like it. — © Mark Alexander

JP Morgan Boss Receives Record Payout

THE TELEGRAPH: Jamie Dimon earns $36m as bank announces best profits of Wall Street’s Big Four

Jamie Dimon is the longest serving chief executive among the major investment banks CREDIT: CHRIS RATCLIFFE/POOL/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock
Wall Street giant JP Morgan paid its long-standing chief executive Jamie Dimon a record $36m (£28.4m) last year. The payout was a 4.3pc increase for Mr Dimon and comes after the bank reported $49.6bn (£39.1bn) of profits last Friday, well ahead of its peers. He was paid $34.5m in 2022.

Mr Dimon, 67, who is the longest serving chief executive among Wall Street’s Big Four banks, hailed the results – which come after JP Morgan shares rose 27pc during the year.

The bank’s board said: “The firm is in a fortunate position to be led by such a highly talented and experienced executive who continues to grow the company, maintain market leadership positions, strengthen the firm’s reputation, invest in opportunities for the future, promote diversity and best practices, manage risk and develop great leaders, while also maintaining his focus on the firm’s clients.”

Mr Dimon’s payout will be made up of a $1.5m base salary and a $34.5m bonus, most of which is paid in stock. » | Chris Price | Friday, January 19, 2024

SOME BOSSES AREN'T QUITE SO SHAMELESS:

British Gas boss Chris O'Shea: 'I can't justify my pay of £4.5m': The boss of British Gas owner Centrica has told the BBC his pay last year of £4.5m is "impossible to justify". »

Billionaire JP Morgan Chief Attacks Socialism as 'a Disaster'

THE GUARDIAN: Jamie Dimon: socialism leads to ‘corruption and favouritism’ / America’s top banker, paid $31m last year, defends capitalism

The world’s most powerful banker has attacked socialism, saying it produces “stagnation, corruption and often worse”.

JP Morgan chief executive Jamie Dimon took aim at socialism in his annual letter to shareholders, and warned it would be “a disaster for our country”.

Dimon, who was paid $31m last year as the head of America’s largest bank and who is estimated by Forbes to be worth $1.3bn, took his swipe as a new wave of left politics has emerged in the US.

Democratic socialism has been embraced by a new generation of politicians, including New York congressman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, and supporters of Bernie Sanders, a longtime socialist now making a second bid for the presidency.

Dimon’s attack also comes as many leftwing Democrats, including Sanders and senator Elizabeth Warren, have called for the breakup of big businesses and greater regulation of banking in particular.

In his letter, Dimon wrote: “When governments control companies, economic assets (companies, lenders and so on) over time are used to further political interests – leading to inefficient companies and markets, enormous favoritism and corruption.” » | Dominic Rushe in New York | Thursday, April 4, 2019

Big City Bonuses Are Back
MAIL Online: City banks are preparing to lavish record bonuses on staff less than a year after bringing the world economy to the brink of meltdown.

Many high-flying traders and dealmakers are looking forward to ' mindblowing' payouts on a par with the rewards handed out at the height of the banking boom in 2007.

This is despite many of the banks only being able to turn a profit because they have been bailed out with taxpayers' money.

Wall Street giant Goldman Sachs is expected to confirm next week that it will pay an average of almost £400,000 in pay and bonuses to each of its 5,500 London-based staff - a total of £2.2billion.

Its profits are soaring on the back of the $6.2billion it received from the U.S. taxpayer last year.

Royal Bank of Scotland recently revealed chief executive Stephen Hester was in line for a £9.7million pay package if he brings the bailed-out bank's share price up to 70p.

Another bailed- out financial giant, Citigroup, is raising basic pay for many of its investment bankers and traders by up to 50 per cent, to make up for the loss in bonus pay.

Nationalised U.S. insurance firm AIG is planning to pay millions of dollars more in bonuses to dozens of top bosses across the world.

Last year it paid out more than £100million despite being rescued by the U.S. government after racking up £60billion in losses from reckless bets on toxic debt.

Credit Suisse, Deutsche Bank, JP Morgan, Morgan Stanley and Barclays are also planning major rewards.

This is despite their actions triggering a recession which is expected to cost a million Britons their jobs.

The return of 'business as usual' to the banking sector makes a mockery of the Government's claim to have stamped out the culture of greed and reckless risk taking in the banking industry. Big City bonuses are back! Less than a year after banks took billions in taxpayer-funded bailouts... >>> Simon Duke | Saturday, July 11, 2009

Blair Accused of Accepting ‘Blood Money’!
DAILY MAIL: Tony Blair has taken a lucrative job with a U.S. bank which is profiting from the Iraq war.

JP Morgan is expected to pay him £1million a year as a part-time adviser.

It is the first of a series of posts that could see the former prime minister rake in a staggering £40million.

The move brought fierce criticism last night. Reg Keys, whose soldier son Tom was killed in Iraq in 2003, said it was "almost akin to taking blood money".

He added: "If he had a conscience or any sensitivity, he would not have taken this job".

Tory defence spokesman Gerald Howarth said: "It will be viewed with some contempt by the armed forces that he picks up this large cheque when he was happy to send British troops into battle ill-equipped and in insufficient numbers."

JP Morgan is heading a consortium set to make billions as Iraq's economy recovers from the war spearheaded by Mr Blair and U.S. President George Bush.

It was chosen to run the new Trade Bank of Iraq, which has raised billions in trade guarantees by mortgaging future oil production and will make huge profits from the deals.

Westminster watchdogs have ordered Mr Blair not to attempt to lobby his former Government colleagues on behalf of the bank for the next 12 months.

But that appears to be no barrier to his employment prospects. The Wall Street bank said he would provide strategic and political advice, as well as appearing at events with its clients.

The former premier has said he expects to take on a "small handful" of similar posts with other companies. They will help him and his wife Cherie pay off an estimated £5million in mortgages.

Mr Blair, 54, who said he wanted his career after No 10 to be of "real purpose" rather than "just about doing a job", is already reported to be earning hundreds of thousands a month as an after- dinner speaker.

Other sources of income include a £5million deal to write his memoirs and a prime ministerial pension of £64,000 a year.

French president Nicolas Sarkozy is spearheading a campaign to have him installed as the first president of the EU - a post expected to be worth at least £200,000 a year.

In all, experts believe Mr Blair can expect to pocket double the £20million earned by former U.S. President Bill Clinton. Blair accused of taking blood money over £1m job with US bank profiting from Iraq war >>> By James Chapman

WATCH BBC VIDEO:
Blair joins JP Morgan

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Mark Alexander (Hardback)

Surprise, Surprise! Tony Blair to Become Advisor to JP Morgan
Photo of Tony Blair (without his make-up on) courtesy of the BBC
THE TELEGRAPH: Tony Blair is preparing to take a lucrative job with an international investment bank, he has disclosed.

The former prime minister - who is said to be earning as much as £1 million a month from speaking fees - will supplement his income as an adviser to JP Morgan, one of the biggest names on Wall Street.

The job could pay Mr Blair about £500,000 a year, according to Wall Street recruitment consultants.

Since he left office last June, several international banks are said to have wooed Mr Blair, hoping to make use of his extensive contacts with governments around the world.

He will act part-time for JP Morgan and is likely to take similar advisory roles elsewhere.

He said he expected to accept "a small handful" of similar roles with international firms in the coming months.

"I have always been interested in commerce and the impact of globalisation," he told the Financial Times in New York. Tony Blair's new job as advisor for JP Morgan >>> By James Kirkup

DAILY EXPRESS:
Tony Blair to earn $1million from advisory job at top Wall Street bank By Jane Merrick

Mark Alexander (Paperback)
Mark Alexander (Hardback)