By INVESTIGATIVE DESK
February 26, 2026
More than six years after Jeffrey Epstein’s death in federal custody, the full scope of his financial and social network continues to emerge through court records, regulatory actions, and congressional investigations. Unlike unverified documents circulating online, the following account is based on official sources: court filings, government settlements, regulatory fines, and congressional correspondence.
The Banking Infrastructure
JPMorgan Chase: $290 Million Settlement
In June 2023, JPMorgan Chase reached a $290 million settlement with sexual abuse victims of Jeffrey Epstein, resolving a class-action lawsuit filed in November 2022 . The lawsuit alleged that the nation’s largest bank ignored repeated red flags about Epstein’s sex-trafficking operation while he was a client from approximately 1998 to 2013 .
U.S. District Judge Jed Rakoff approved the settlement in November 2023, noting that nearly 200 victims could receive compensation . The settlement followed months of embarrassing disclosures about how top JPMorgan executives maintained Epstein as a client despite numerous warning signs .
Separately, JPMorgan agreed in September 2023 to pay $75 million to the U.S. Virgin Islands to settle claims related to Epstein’s operations from his private island in the territory .
Deutsche Bank: $150 Million Fine
In July 2020, Deutsche Bank agreed to pay a $150 million fine to New York’s Department of Financial Services for “significant compliance failures” in its relationship with Epstein . The bank worked with Epstein from 2013 to 2018โafter JPMorgan dismissed him .
New York regulators found that Deutsche Bank processed hundreds of transactions totaling millions of dollars that should have triggered scrutiny . These included payments to Russian models, $800,000 in “suspicious” cash withdrawals, and more than $7 million to resolve legal issues .
“Whether or to what extent those payments or that cash was used by Mr. Epstein to cover up old crimes, to facilitate new ones, or for some other purpose are questions that must be left to the criminal authorities, but the fact that they were suspicious should have been obvious to bank personnel at various levels,” the regulator stated .
Deutsche Bank acknowledged its error, with CEO Christian Sewing calling it a “critical mistake” to accept Epstein as a client . The bank later agreed to pay $75 million to Epstein’s victims in a separate settlement .
Leon Black and the $158 Million Question
Documented Payments
Wall Street financier Leon Black paid Jeffrey Epstein approximately $158 million between 2012 and 2017 . According to an independent review conducted by the law firm Dechert for Apollo Global Management, these payments were for tax and estate planning services .
The Dechert review concluded that Black “had not engaged in any wrongdoing” and “had no awareness of Epstein’s criminal activity,” with all fees “for legitimate tax, estate and philanthropy planning services” that were “vetted and approved by outside law firms” .
However, Senate Finance Committee Ranking Member Ron Wyden has raised serious questions about the arrangement. In a July 2025 letter to IRS Commissioner Billy Long, Wyden noted that the payments helped Black avoid more than $1 billion in future estate tax liabilities .
Irregularities in the Arrangement
According to Wyden’s investigation, the majority of paymentsโapproximately $100 millionโwere made on an “ad hoc” basis without any written contract or business services agreement . The payments far exceeded what Black paid other professional advisors, including “some of the most renowned legal counsel in the nation” .
At an annualized rate of $34 million per year, Epstein’s compensation was double the median CEO pay for Fortune 500 companies . Yet Epstein lacked any professional training or certifications in accounting or tax law .
Black’s attorneys acknowledged to Wyden’s investigators that “not all of Epstein’s advice was useful” and that his ideas “would appear plausible at face value, but did not hold up under scrutiny” . In one instance involving a $20 million payment for a “step-up basis transaction,” Black’s attorneys stated the idea “was in the public domain and originated with his other legal advisors,” adding that “Epstein tried to take credit for the idea and secure compensation” .
U.S. Virgin Islands Settlement
In January 2023, Black agreed to pay $62.5 million to the U.S. Virgin Islands. The settlement agreement stated that Epstein “used the money Black paid him to partially fund his operations in the Virgin Islands” .
IRS Investigation Question
Despite these documented irregularities, Black’s attorneys confirmed in writing to Wyden’s investigators that the tax transactions at issue have “not been reviewed by the Internal Revenue Service as part of an audit” .
Wyden called this “unthinkable,” stating: “When Americans think the system is rigged, this is the kind of abuse they think about. While average Americans are regularly audited, it appears that the IRS will simply look the other way in cases involving billionaires” .
Bill Clinton: Flight Records and Congressional Testimony
Documented Flights
Flight logs show that former President Bill Clinton traveled on Epstein’s private aircraft at least 16 times between 2001 and 2004 . Destinations included domestic U.S. locations as well as Hong Kong, Singapore, Beijing, and London .
Some flights were taken with Epstein and his former girlfriend Ghislaine Maxwell . Clinton has maintained that he knew nothing of Epstein’s criminal activities and cut ties before Epstein’s 2019 arrest .
Emails in Released Documents
The Department of Justice’s January 2026 document release included emails between Clinton’s staff and Maxwell. In one 2001 exchange, Clinton aides asked Maxwell for contact information for Prince Andrew to coordinate a golf outing in Scotland .
Other emails contained crude language. In one, Maxwell told a Clinton staff member she had told a tabloid reporter about Clinton’s purported sexual prowess, adding: “Hope you don’t mind!” Clinton’s spokesperson has stated that the former president “almost never emailed” and never shared devices or accounts with anyone, though the spokesperson could not identify who actually sent the emails .
Upcoming Congressional Depositions
After months of negotiations and a threatened contempt vote, Bill and Hillary Clinton have agreed to testify before the House Oversight Committee . Hillary Clinton’s deposition is scheduled for February 26, 2026, in Chappaqua, New York, with Bill Clinton appearing on February 27 .
The depositions will cover five agreed-upon topics: mismanagement of the federal investigation into Epstein and Maxwell; circumstances of Epstein’s 2019 death; methods to combat sex-trafficking rings; how Epstein and Maxwell sought to protect their illegal activities; and potential ethics violations by elected officials .
Rep. James Comer, the committee chairman, emphasized: “No one is accusing the Clintons of any wrongdoing. We just have a lot of questions” .
Bill Clinton has never been accused by law enforcement of any wrongdoing related to Epstein .
The January 2026 Document Release
What Was Released
On January 30, 2026, the Department of Justice released more than 3 million pages of documents related to Epstein, along with approximately 180,000 images and thousands of videos . The release was mandated by legislation passed in late 2025 requiring the government to publish its Epstein files .
Controversy Over Redactions
Victims and some lawmakers have expressed frustration that many documents remain heavily redacted . NPR reported on February 24, 2026, that some documents related to allegations against President Donald Trump may have been withheld .
According to reports, the unpublished documents include FBI notes summarizing 2019 interviews with a woman who alleged she was sexually assaulted decades ago as a minor by both Epstein and Trump . Of four interviews conducted, only one summaryโrelated to allegations against Epsteinโhas been made public .
Democratic lawmakers on the House Oversight Committee stated they “can confirm that the Justice Department appears to have unlawfully concealed FBI interviews” with the alleged victim .
Justice Department Response
The Justice Department responded that “NOTHING has been removed” from the public database, clarifying that only duplicate documents, those under court order not to be released, or materials part of ongoing federal investigations have not been published . The department stated it is reviewing files that may have been misclassified and will release any that meet legal criteria .
Trump, who once moved in the same social circles as Epstein, has denied any knowledge of Epstein’s criminal activity and stated he severed relations before legal proceedings began .
Epstein’s Criminal History
2008 Conviction
In 2008, Epstein pleaded guilty in Florida state court to two felony charges: soliciting prostitution and soliciting prostitution from a minor . This stemmed from a Palm Beach investigation that identified multiple underage victims . He served 13 months in county jail under a controversial work-release arrangementโhis only criminal conviction during his lifetime .
2019 Federal Indictment
In July 2019, federal prosecutors in the Southern District of New York charged Epstein with sex trafficking of minors and conspiracy to commit sex trafficking . The indictment alleged he recruited and paid underage girls for sexual acts in New York and Florida between 2002 and 2005 .
Prosecutors also alleged that Epstein transported minors between his properties for illegal sexual activity and maintained residences where such activity occurred . Epstein pleaded not guilty and died in custody on August 10, 2019, before trial. His death was determined to be suicide .
Ghislaine Maxwell
Epstein’s longtime associate Ghislaine Maxwell was arrested in July 2020 and later convicted on sex trafficking charges. She is serving a 20-year prison sentence .
Ongoing Investigations
Treasury Department Records
Senator Wyden’s investigation has identified 4,725 wire transfers documented in suspicious activity reports related to Epstein, totaling more than $1.5 billion . Some banks filed these reports years after the transactions occurred .
Wyden has urged the Justice Department to subpoena records from Bank of America, JPMorgan Chase, and Deutsche Bank .
DEA Investigation Questions
A 2015 memo in the DOJ files shows the Drug Enforcement Administration opened an investigation into nearly $50 million in suspicious wire transfers involving Epstein and 14 other targets, starting in December 2010โtwo years after his non-prosecution agreement . The disposition of this investigation remains unclear.
Documented Payments and Settlements: Summary
Entity Amount Year Basis
JPMorgan Chase (victims) $290 million 2023 Class-action settlement
JPMorgan Chase (USVI) $75 million 2023 Territorial settlement
Deutsche Bank (regulatory) $150 million 2020 NYDFS fine
Deutsche Bank (victims) $75 million 2023 Victim settlement
Leon Black (to Epstein) $158 million 2012-2017 Documented payments
Leon Black (USVI) $62.5 million 2023 Territorial settlement
Sources and Methodology
This article is based on:
ยท Official court documents and settlements
ยท Regulatory enforcement actions (NYDFS)
ยท Congressional correspondence and investigations (Senate Finance Committee)
ยท Department of Justice public releases
ยท Reporting from The New York Times, CNN, BBC, and Bloomberg News
ยท Securities and Exchange Commission filings
All information presented has been verified against primary sources or authoritative news organizations. Documents referenced are in the public domain.
โReporting by the Investigative Desk
Bernd Pulch โ Bio
Bernd Pulch (M.A.) is a forensic expert, founder of Aristotle AI, entrepreneur, political commentator, satirist, and investigative journalist covering lawfare, media control, investment, real estate, and geopolitics. His work examines how legal systems are weaponized, how capital flows shape policy, how artificial intelligence concentrates power, and what democracy loses when courts and markets become battlefields. Active in the German and international media landscape, his analyses appear regularly on this platform.
๐ BERND PULCH ARCHIVE | SECURE MIRROR 
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