The Treasury Department watchdog ordered JPMorgan Chase & Co (JPM.N) to work with U.S. regulators seeking documents in connection with a probe into the bank's relationship with convicted Ponzi schemer Bernard Madoff, in a warning letter dated December 21.
The letter from Treasury Inspector General Eric Thorson to JPMorgan's general counsel, Stephen Cutler, which was reviewed by Reuters on Friday, revealed that the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency has been unable to get documents it requested.
JPMorgan has argued it does not have to turn over certain kinds of documents to the OCC because it would impinge on its attorney-client privilege rights, according to the letter.
Thorson told the bank his office would not accept that argument and ordered JPMorgan to tell his office by January 11 how it would resolve the dispute with the OCC.