Google co-founder Sergey Brin is among three billionaires issued with subpoenas this week in relation to JPMorgan’s ties to pedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein.
The probe by the US Virgin Islands concerns allegations that JP Morgan Chase and Co. turned a blind eye to Epstein’s sex trafficking.
Hyatt Hotels executive chairman Thomas Pritzker and real estate investor Mort Zuckerman have also been hit with subpoenas.
Former Disney executive turned venture capitalist Michael Ovitz has also been asked to supply information.
It is not clear why the men – who are some of the wealthiest people in the US – have been targeted by investors.
Google co-founder Sergey Brin among three billionaires to have been issued subpoenas this week in relation to JPMorgan’s ties to pedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein
Thomas Pritzker, who acts as the executive chairman of Hyatt Hotels, has also been issued with a subpoena
Real estate expert Mort Zuckerman, left, and former Disney president turned venture capitalist Michael Ovitz, right, have also been slapped with orders to release information. It is not known why the four men have been targeted
Lawyers in civil cases use subpoenas to get information from those who aren’t party to the suit but may have relevant evidence.
The orders issued to the men are seeking any communications and documents related to Epstein and JP Morgan, The Wall Street Journal reports.
Brin – who co-founded Google with Lary Page in 1998 – is understood to be the wealthiest of those targeted, with an estimated net worth of $85.6 billion according to Forbes.
It makes him the 12th-richest man in the world.
Pritzker and Zuckerman are worth $5.3 billion and $2.3 billion respectively.
The US Virgin Islands launched a lawsuit against JP Morgan in a Manhattan federal court last year amid accusations it allowed the late financier to remain a client.
It is also facing a second lawsuit from one of Epstein’s victims over its decision to keep him as a client until 2013 – five years after he was first convicted in Florida of soliciting prostitution from minors.
Attorneys claim it helped him to send money to his victims and that the bank received high-value business opportunities from Epstein.
As part of the investigation, JPMorgan’s chairman and chief executive Jamie Dimon is expected to be deposed.
But the bank is arguing it was not aware of Epstein’s crimes and cannot be held liable. It cut ties with the convicted sex offender in 2013.
JPMorgan has sought to have the lawsuits dismissed and has launched a suit against its former investment banking chief Jes Staley who enjoyed a cozy relationship with Epstein.
The bank alleges it is to blame for the legal fallout involving Epstein and was responsible for their 15-year financial relationship.
Epstein died in jail in 2019 while awaiting a trial on his federal sex-trafficking charges. His incarceration shed light on his relationships with a series of high-profile figures including – most famously – socialite Ghislaine Maxwell and Prince Andrew
JPMorgan now insists that former investment banking chief Staley was responsible for the firm’s 15-year financial relationship with Epstein
JPMorgan has sought to have the lawsuits dismissed. Chairman and chief executive Jamie Dimon is expected to be deposed as part of the investigation
Staley is accused of exchanging sexually suggestive emails with Epstein, some of which included photos of young women.
He is also reported to have exchanged more than 1,000 emails from his work email account between 2008 and 2012, corresponded with Epstein after his incarceration and visited his residence on the Virgin Island’s repeatedly.
The messages were referenced in recently unsealed passages from a federal lawsuit.
He later became CEO of Barclays before stepping down in 2021 pending the investigations.
Staley has not been criminally charged with any activities related to Epstein.
Epstein died in jail in 2019 while awaiting a trial on his federal sex-trafficking charges.
His incarceration shed light on his relationships with a series of high-profile figures including – most famously – socialite Ghislaine Maxwell and Prince Andrew.
Dailymail.com attempted to reach Brin, Zuckerman and Pritzker for comment.