Newly released documents have revealed that senior bankers at JPMorgan Chase maintained professional interactions with Jeffrey Epstein after the bank formally terminated him as a client in 2013, raising renewed scrutiny over governance and relationship management within major financial institutions.
The documents show that two managing directors, Justin Nelson and Paul Barrett, continued engaging with Epstein from 2014 onwards as he assumed a larger role in managing the family office of Apollo Global Management co-founder Leon Black. Nelson had previously served as Epstein’s banker before the bank ended the relationship, while Barrett had assisted in identifying investment opportunities linked to him. Their continued contact facilitated discussions between JPMorgan and Black’s family office, contributing to the development of a commercial relationship beginning in 2014.
Previously reported meetings between the bankers and Epstein between 2014 and 2017 were, according to the bank, connected to other clients whom Epstein represented rather than to any reinstated banking relationship. Nelson remains a senior banker at JPMorgan, while Barrett departed the firm in 2017 to work directly for Epstein. Recent disclosures by the Justice Department and Congress provide further detail, including internal emails indicating that Epstein played a significant role in helping bankers secure introductions to affluent individuals and pitch business to Black.
A spokesperson for JPMorgan reiterated that Epstein was removed as a client in August 2013 and stated that any subsequent interactions occurred because other clients chose to use him as an adviser. The bank also said it reported suspicious activity to federal authorities both before and after terminating the client relationship.
The disclosures highlight the complexity of managing reputational and compliance risks in global banking, particularly where former clients continue to exert influence through advisory roles and private wealth networks.
