The U.S. Virgin Islands can serve a subpoena for Tesla CEO Elon Musk through his electric car company, a federal judge ruled Wednesday. The subpoena is part of the government’s lawsuit against JPMorgan Chase over the bank’s ties to dead sexual trafficker Jeffrey Epstein.
The Virgin Islands government accuses JPMorgan of “knowingly benefiting” from Epstein’s sex trafficking and failing to report his suspicious activities. The lawsuit alleges that Epstein “may have referred or attempted to refer” Musk to JPMorgan as a client.
The subpoena demands documents related to Musk, Epstein and JPMorgan, as well as “all documents reflecting or regarding Epstein’s involvement in human trafficking and/or his procurement of girls or women for commercial sex.”
The government has been trying to subpoena Musk since April 28, but failed to make contact with him despite hiring an investigative firm to identify his potential addresses. The government then asked the court to allow the subpoena to be delivered through Tesla’s registered agent.
Judge Jed Rakoff of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York granted the request, saying that “service on Tesla is reasonably calculated to provide actual notice” to Musk.
Musk has denied any involvement with Epstein or JPMorgan. In a tweet on Monday, he called the subpoena “idiotic” and said that he never needed or listened to financial advice from Epstein, whom he called a “cretin.” He also said that JPMorgan “let Tesla down ten years ago” and he withdrew Tesla’s business and hasn’t forgiven them.
JPMorgan has also denied any wrongdoing in its relationship with Epstein, who was a client of the bank from 1998 to 2013. The bank said that it was unaware of the allegations against Epstein, except for one former executive who was accused of concealing a personal relationship with him. The bank’s CEO Jamie Dimon is set to testify later this month in the case.
Epstein died by suicide in a New York jail in 2019 while awaiting trial on federal sex trafficking charges.
Reference：
- Musk Can Be Subpoenaed Through Tesla In Jeffrey Epstein-JPMorgan Lawsuit, Judge Rules | Forbes | May,17,2023
- Epstein-related subpoena for Musk can be served to Tesla, judge rules | The Detroit News | May,17,2023
- Elon Musk subpoenaed over JPMorgan’s role in Jeffrey Epstein’s activities | The Guardian | May,15,2023