Washington, D.C. – New reporting from COURIER's newsletter, "The Cover-Up," reveals that prominent individuals and institutions in billionaire business circles continued to engage with Jeffrey Epstein even after his 2008 conviction for soliciting prostitution involving a minor. The investigation, led by COURIER's National Correspondent Camaron Stevenson, underscores the enduring influence and financial connections Epstein maintained within elite networks. This ongoing scrutiny follows over $1 billion in settlements paid by banks and associates to resolve claims related to Epstein's sex trafficking operation.
The COURIER report highlights a pattern where Epstein's status as a registered sex offender did not deter many from maintaining professional and personal relationships. As stated in the tweet from COURIER, "Turns out Jeffrey Epstein being a registered sex offender wasn’t a dealbreaker in billionaire business circles." This new reporting aims to investigate "who kept working with Epstein—and why."
Financial institutions like JPMorgan, Deutsche Bank, and Bank of America have collectively paid hundreds of millions in settlements, accused of overlooking suspicious activities that facilitated Epstein's criminal enterprise. For instance, JPMorgan settled for $290 million in June 2023, while Deutsche Bank paid $75 million in May 2023 to avoid a class-action lawsuit. Bank of America recently began processing $72.5 million in settlements as of March 2026. These settlements, often made without admission of wrongdoing, indicate the significant financial and reputational risks associated with these past associations.
Beyond banking, figures such as former Barclays CEO Jes Staley, private equity executive Leon Black, and various academics and public figures maintained contact with Epstein. Leon Black, co-founder of Apollo Global Management, reportedly paid Epstein $158 million for tax and estate planning advice between 2012 and 2017. Many of these individuals have since faced public backlash, resignations, or investigations due to their documented ties, particularly after the release of the extensive "Epstein files."
COURIER's "The Cover-Up" project, featuring reporting from Camaron Stevenson, aims to provide comprehensive insights into the systems and influence that enabled Epstein's crimes. The initiative includes a new microsite and a database powered by Thorian AI, offering public access to indexed files and tracking information related to Epstein's network. This effort seeks to bring transparency to a complex web of power and accountability.
