Merrill Lynch wealth adviser named in Epstein files departs firm

Paul V. Morris, a private wealth adviser linked to Jeffrey Epstein in Department of Justice records, has left his position at Merrill Lynch. A spokesperson for Bank of America confirmed the departure on Saturday, though the firm declined to provide a timeline or confirm if the exit relates to his Epstein connections.

Morris joined the Merrill Private Wealth Management division in 2016. According to documents released by the Department of Justice, he maintained contact with Epstein’s accountant and personal assistant between 2017 and 2018. Before his tenure at Merrill, Morris held roles at JPMorgan Chase and Deutsche Bank. Files indicate he was part of a JPMorgan team that approved Epstein as a client in 2011.

His exit follows mounting pressure on major financial institutions regarding their historical associations with the late financier, who died in 2019 while awaiting sex trafficking charges. While Bank of America maintained that Epstein was never a client of their wealth management arm, other institutions have faced significant legal scrutiny. Both JPMorgan and Deutsche Bank have dealt with litigation and regulatory inquiries over their continued business dealings with Epstein long after internal red flags were raised. Morris could not be reached for comment regarding his departure or his previous professional interactions with Epstein.