USVI Attorney General Denise George Fired Days After Filing Epstein Lawsuit
USVI Attorney General Denise George is fired by Governor Albert Bryan Jr. on January 5, 2022 — days after publicly filing an expanded civil lawsuit against JPMorgan Chase over its banking relationship with Jeffrey Epstein. George had previously filed the landmark USVI lawsuit against Epstein's estate in 2020. Her sudden termination, attributed by the governor to unspecified internal issues, was widely interpreted as politically motivated retaliation for her aggressive pursuit of Epstein-related accountability.
People Involved
Denise George’s firing became one of the most striking political developments in the post-Epstein accountability landscape.
George’s Record on Epstein
As USVI Attorney General, George had been the most aggressive government official pursuing accountability for Epstein’s criminal operation in the territory where he had operated most extensively:
- In 2020, she filed a landmark lawsuit against Epstein’s estate alleging sex trafficking, financial fraud, and abuse of USVI tax incentive programs
- That lawsuit eventually settled for $105 million — the largest single settlement in the case
- She then filed an expanded lawsuit against JPMorgan Chase alleging the bank knowingly serviced Epstein’s trafficking accounts
The Timing
George was fired on January 5, 2022 — within days of filing the JPMorgan lawsuit. The timing created an immediate perception that her termination was related to her Epstein work.
The Governor’s Explanation
Governor Bryan stated the termination was for internal management reasons unrelated to the JPMorgan lawsuit. Critics found this explanation unconvincing given the timing.
What Happened to the Cases
George’s dismissal did not end the USVI’s pursuit of JPMorgan. A successor AG continued the litigation, which eventually settled for $290 million — though this settlement was a separate class action settlement in the SDNY, not the USVI AG’s case specifically.
George’s firing became a symbol of the political risks faced by officials pursuing accountability in the Epstein case aggressively.