EFTA00129020.pdf

JPMorgan: V.I. trying to block release of embarrassing Epstein does By SUZANNE CARLSON Cal, according to Ellsworth. similar tactics to withhold public records ignate these materials as confidaitial." fined to reinct information," according Daily News Staff Ellsworth% next sentence included related to Epstein. according to Ellsworth, who listed sev- to the law. several redactions, but hinted at the con- Epstein had close contact with numer- eral reasons why the documents could That means goverment officials ST. THOMAS — The V.I. gover- tans of the sealed exhibits: 'Specifically, ous government officials during his life- be considered confidential, such as fi- could choose to release "confidatial" re, ment is refusing to disclose certain USVI has asserted confidentiality over time, including former first lady Cecile nancial infonnation or 'Materials related cords that are in the public Merest public records, according to a new filing public records reflecting embarrassing deffingh, who worked as Epstein% an- to ownership of a non-public company, Ellsworth also noted that, "Absent by an attorney •npresenting JPMorgan communication [redacted] that reveal ployee for 20 yeats. trade scums, information of an intimate froin that list of fifteen record types is any Chase bank. who says the records are not the USVI% [rodacted) and its abject ail- VI. Delegate to Congress Stacy Plas- nature:' etc. • mention of records related to sex offender confidential, but are embarrassing to gov- um to [redacted]. But avoiding anbar- ken acknowledged (Kiang a May 9 depo- Rather than citing the protective order, neg)stration." ernment officials who dealt with Jeffrey rasErnent is not a basis to keep taut th- sition that she met privately with Epstein the VI. genii anon "incorrectly asserts Still, the gown/an is insisting that Epstein. ingssealed!' several times to solicit campaign contri- that exhibits must be kept confidential the law doesn't allow any information The bank is euntraly defending The Virgin Islands government has butions. under a U.S. Virgin Islands Stitute related to be made public that isn't on the list of against a lawsuit by the VI. government,' long tensed to release many types of Plaskett steed as the V.I. Economic to sex of resit:ration:. Ellsworth information that must be included on the which claims that employees kept Ep- records that are commonly considered Development Authority attorney from wrote. sex (Amulet registry welysite. stein on as a client despite his suspicious public in other jurisctictions, such as po- 2007 to 2012 while Bryan was EDA The law lists certain information about Ellsworth called the argument "dubi- cash transactions, and naxlia reports that lice incident and arrest reports, death cer- chairman and Epstein, who had already convicted sex offenders that must be pub- ous,"ghen that the law also includes a list he had been sexually abusing underage tificates, and law atom:man personnel been living in the Virgin Islands for about licly disclosed, "but it does not provide of what information cannot be included girls. records showing whether an officer has a a decade, was convicted of chikl sex that other government records — for on the website. in addition, federal law The bank% lawyers have fired back history of misconduct. crimes in Florida in 2008. example, communications between" includes similar exemptions from public with claims that VI. government o0lcials Government officials sometimes ig- Fpsteiricontinued to receive millions [redacted) "must be kept confidential records disclosure, and "similarly, none were aware of Epstein% activities, but nore public records requests or refuse to of dollars in tax exemptions from the or arc not otherwise subject to dis- of than apply to the information USVI failed to hold him accountable for the 20 respond citing Confidentiality provisions WA, despite being a known sex of- closure in civil litigation?' Ellsworth seeks to shield." years he lived in the territory before his in public employee union contracts that fader, and Bryan signed off renewal of wrote. The VI. government has also failed August 2019 suicide while awaiting trial arc not codified in law Epstein's benefit certificate in 2013. Ellsworth cited another section of to explain why the records must be kept on new charges. The Virgin Islands Coda lists certain Bryan was scheduled to be deposed on the V.I. Code, in which "It is hereby confidential at all, other than to protect On Monday, attorney Linda Singer types of documents that are exempt from June 6, according to a public docket entry, declared to be the policy of the Gov- individual privacy, Ellsworth wrote. fled a memorandum on behalf of the public disclosure, but the law is permis- but the transcript from his deposition has ernment of the Virgin Islands that "Yet the only individual discussed in V.I. government that included exhibits sive - meaning government officials not yet been publicly released. the public is entitled to the fiillest the documents islethey Epstein. It would with partially redacted entails and com- could choose to release exempt records Some documents and depositions in practicable. information regarding be strange indeed if USVI now seeks to munications between bank officials, dis- that are in the public interest. the case may never be publicly released the decision making processes of the protect !ditty Epstein, whose mimes cussing how to manage the fallout from Government officials typically never as there is a protective order in place to government," and gives citizens the form the basis for its lawsuit and who Epstein's criminal activity, and whether to release such records, citing the list of ex- keep him on as a client emptions as if the taw fully prohibits their keep victims identities and other sensi- tive information confidential. right to examine and copy all government records upon roquest, "unless some other has been dead for almost four years:' she added. - I lie bank's lawyers have been try- disclosure. But Ellsworth argued in Monday's fil- provision of the Code expressly limits Ellsworth asked the judge to order ing to file similar exhibits publicly since The government's lack of transparency ing that the V.I. government is trying to such right or requites such records to be the V.I. government to allow the bank to May 23, but are currently blocked by the has been so egregious the Society of extend the blanket of secntcy to public kept secret or confidential." refile its May 23 opposition to the gov- government% confidentiality claims, ac- Professional Journalists awarded the Mr. mortis that should be released The law includes a list of records that ernment's motion to strike the bank's cording to a letter from JPNIagan Chase gin Islands government the 2015 "Black "The documents USVI wk.; to shield am manta from the disclosure require- affirmative defenses, "along with ex- attorney Felecia Ellsworth to Judge Jed Hole Award" for its "bald and breath- from the public view we public records:' ment, but the statute does not actually hibits redacted only to the extent nec- Rakoff, which was also filed Monday taking contempt of the public% right to produced in response to the bank% docu- prohibit those records from being dis- essary to prevent the disclosure of per- "Yet, although USVI lacks any basis know" ment requests, according to Ellsworth% closed publicly. • sonal information regarding unrelated to maintain confidentiality over the ex- That award was given to the admin- filing, which contains a fully nxlacted The listed nxxxds "shall be kept con- individuals." hibits cited in that filing, it has Rinsed to istration of former Gov. Kenneth Mapp, description of the documents' contents. fidential, unless otherwise onitrod by a — Contact Suzanne Carlson al withdraw its confidentiality designations, but according to Ellsworth, current Gov. "The USVI duce not identify any ba- court, by the lawful custodian of the re- 340-714-9122 or email scadron®.... thereby requiring this Court% interaen- ,..Albert Bryan Jr.% administration is using sis in the Protective Order for it to des- cords, or by another person duly atetho-. dadynews.vi. EFTA00129020