EFTA00129016.pdf

The Virgin Islands Daily New s 3 VIRGIN ISLANDS Friday, May 26, 2023 Friday, May 26, 2023 44 very projects Epstein's prim ary con duit for government was First Lady deJong spre adin h. g money and influence throughout the USVI by JPMorgan Chase lawyers — Court documents filed f. dy w as E ps te in 's lo ca l fixe r Court filing claims ex-first la Who knew what, when? By SUZANNE CARLSON In the ongoing civil case, the bank Daily News Staff has asserted several affirmative de- A court filing by lawyers for fenses. including that the VI. govern- of JPMorgan Chase accuses former Vir- ment has "unclean hands" because deali ngs with Epste in. gin Islands first lady Cecile deJongh officials' of facilitating Jeffrey Epstein's abuse The V.I. government has asked of women and girls by helping him the court to deny certain affirmative in influence local politicians, and says defenses. Rut Ellsworth responded st filing that it's the V.I. deJongh even asked Epstein to sugge the bank's latest changes to the territ ory's sex offen der government that bears responsibility for enabling Epstein's crimes. "Epstein's primary conduit for "To grant USVI immunity from to spreading money and influence these defenses would be to allow it directly, throughout the USVI government was profit from Epstein twice: first could First Lady deJongh" who worked as then again in a civil suit which it inimx," Epuein's local fixer for two decad es. just as easily see reflected in a including throughout her husband according to the filing. John deJongh 1cs tenure as V.I. gover- A judge has not yet ruled on the nor from 2007 to 2015. according to dispute over affirmative defenses. . John is currently mitigated with a steel plate. The the filing. Meanwhile, the bank's lawyers are !king to rehabilitate sections of the road. DeJongh told Epstein which govern- naming Cecile de Jongh and other ment officials to pay oft', and devised Virgin Islanders as key parties respon- heard on second area of erosion. ways to jlaify his victims' presence in sible for helping Epstein thrive in the onal Park The project will involve instal- the territory by enrolling them at the territory, despite his status as a sex of- ehabilitatc lation of a mechanically stabilized University of the Virgin Islands so they fender convicted ofprocuring children mon Bay earth retaining wall at one site, and could obtain student visas , acco rding for prostitution in Florida in 2008. of Honey- installation of a rock face trapezoi- to the filing. The V.I. Justice Department is re- ;outhwest. dal rockery wall at the second site. and, form er Gov. John deJongh Jr. sible for monitoring sex offenders In a statement to The Daily News Former first lady Cecile deJo ngh and her husb spon House, an In response to questioning from on Thursday, UVI President David in the territory, including Epstein. who t between St. John CZM Committee member 's -USV I sena- lawsuit filed by the V.I. Justice Depart- claimed Little St. James island off St. Hall denied all allegations in the bank !cording to the tiling. he woul d 'supp ort [then in the U.S. District Court for the !aches. Rafe Boulon, Campo-Allen said tor] Carlton Dome's bid to go hick to ment Thomas as his primary residence for nent fail- native stone will be used, and the filing. "Lest there be doubt that Epstein's a 'good perso n Southern District ofNew York. tuo decades before his August 2019 Attorneys for the bank say docu- VIPA ' who woul d be The government has accused the s threaten rockery wall's facade was chosen goal was to gain influence, First Lady ments obtained during the discovery deJongh explicitly advised Epstein for us' there." bank of facilitating and profiting from suicide. suit in a with the viewshed in mind. process, which is still ongoing, show I Prior to his elect ion, Go' Albe rt crimes. But attorneys for the Several sections of Ellsworth's filing Campo-Allen said there are known on how to buy control of the USV "faci litate d do- Epst eins that remain partially redacted refer to sections that deiongh asked Epstein — a acco rding to the filing. Bryan Jr., in 2018. also say the gove rnme nt provided a of construe- archaeological sites close to, but not registered sex offender - to suggest politi cal class :" nations by Epstein to USVI's scho ols bank the territory's lack ofenforcement aid Kim at, the two failing sections of road- telling him "how to vote and whom to Epste in also safe have n for Epstein and allowed tr. duo territory% sex offender little le:woes:sa nd EFTA00129016