The former chief executive of Barclays Jes Staley allegedly stayed in contact with Jeffrey Epstein long after joining the UK bank, according to legal documents that reportedly contradict claims he cut ties with the convicted child sex offender and disgraced financier in 2015.
Documents from a now-settled lawsuit, seen by Bloomberg News, allegedly suggest that the two men used an unnamed third person, who “acted as an intermediary for messages between Staley and Epstein”, to stay in contact after Staley took over as chief executive of Barclays in December 2015.
Supporting evidence allegedly suggests Epstein would send questions for Staley via the intermediary, who would pass them on verbally. The third person would then return Staley’s reply to Epstein in writing.
The court documents were redacted to remove certain names. In one email, sent weeks after Donald Trump won the presidential election in November 2016, Epstein reportedly wrote: “Could you ask [REDACTED] if he would like to considered for treasury [sic].” The intermediary replied: “Will do. He’s on a plane to London right now but I’ll reach him after.” The individual later added: “Spoke with him. He said not yet, but thanks.”
Bloomberg said this was an apparent attempt to discuss the appointment of the Treasury secretary in Trump’s incoming administration.
A few months later, in February 2017, Epstein was reportedly seeking an opinion on one of Staley’s former colleagues from JP Morgan, though redactions mean it is unclear whose opinion Epstein is seeking.
“Can you ask [REDACTED] his opinion of Véronique Weill she wants to join rothschild [sic],” Epstein allegedly wrote. The go-between replied: “Will do. I will speak with him today and get back to you.” They later said: “He thinks she is great and is a big fan of hers. Good recommendation for rothschild [sic].”
Bloomberg contacted a spokesperson for Weill, who said: “She [Weill] didn’t know Jeffrey Epstein and she has no knowledge of any such potential approach from him to Jes Staley.”
The documents are from a lawsuit originally lodged by the US Virgin Islands against Staley’s former employer JP Morgan, which was settled in September for $75m (£60m).
They appear to contradict previous comments from Staley, who in 2020 said his final contact with the financier was in “middle to late 2015”, shortly before he took over as Barclays’ chief executive.
Staley resigned from the bank in November 2021, and last September was banned from holding any senior City role after the UK’s Financial Conduct Authority ruled he had misled the regulator over his relationship with Epstein.
The FCA said Staley continued to have contact with Epstein – who pleaded guilty to soliciting sex from girls as young as 14 in 2008 – up to at least 2015. It is not clear whether the FCA has a view of the allegations in the US Virgin Island lawsuit of continued contact between the pair.
“We have set out our case against Mr Staley clearly and will argue it in front of the tribunal,” the FCA said in a statement. “Given the process is ongoing it is not appropriate to comment any further at this stage.”
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The watchdog would not confirm whether it was previously aware of the communications outlined in the reported legal documents.
However, if information were to come to light that was relevant to the FCA’s case – including Staley’s appeal at the upper tribunal – the regulator would have scope to include it.
Staley is appealing against the FCA decision. An emailed statement provided by his lawyers in September said: “If I had known who JE [Jeffrey Epstein] really was, there is absolutely no doubt that I wouldn’t be in the position I am in today. Prior to undertaking my former role, it was known that I had had a relationship with JE.
“I am very disappointed by the FCA’s decision and I will continue to challenge it. I will not comment any further until these proceedings are concluded.”
Staley’s lawyer did not immediately respond to the Guardian’s requests for comment regarding the Bloomberg News story. Barclays declined to comment.
