Executive Jes Staley, previously with JPMorgan and Barclays, disclosed in court his intimate relationship with Epstein's assistant.
Rewritten Article:
In the ongoing court proceedings at London's Upper Tribunal, ex-Barclays CEO Jes Staley has made some shocking revelations. He stated that he had a sexual encounter with a staff member of notorious pedophile Jeffrey Epstein.
The British Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) had earlier proposed to ban Staley and levy a fine of £1.8 million ($2.3 million) on him, accusing him of misleading them about his relationship with Epstein. Staley bluntly revealed that he had no inkling about Epstein's heinous activities.
During his testimony, Staley was confronted with evidence from a lawsuit filed against him by JPMorgan, a former employer where he served as the head of the private bank and managed Epstein as a client. JPMorgan had sued the US Virgin Islands for allegedly turning a blind eye to Epstein's sex trafficking activities, and in turn, sued Staley.
In the US litigation, Staley was questioned about a sexual encounter with a woman at Epstein's brother's apartment in New York. FCA's lawyer, Leigh-Ann Mulcahy, brought forth this information. Staley admitted to the encounter, stating it was consensual, and the woman was part of Epstein's staff, as he recalls.
The FCA also argued that Epstein had intentionally asked Staley to be the trustee of his estate as evidence of their close relationship. Staley, however, denied the proposition, stating he turned down the offer.
Staley's appeal primarily focuses on a 2019 letter sent by Barclays Chair Nigel Higgins to the FCA, following Epstein's arrest which brought scrutiny upon his associates. The FCA claims the letter contained two false statements: one stating Staley and Epstein did not have a close relationship, and the other stating they last communicated well before Staley joined Barclays in 2015. Staley maintains that both statements were accurate.
The FCA has presented over a thousand emails exchanged between Staley and Epstein, depicting their friendship as "profound" and Epstein as Staley's "family." One email chain from 2010, previously reported, showed Staley referring to Epstein as "Snow White" and Epstein asking Staley about his preferred character, to which Staley responded with "Beauty and the Beast." Staley claims he has no recollection of these emails.
- The allegation regarding Staley's close relationship with Jeffrey Epstein, as portrayed in a large number of exchanged emails, is being disputed by Staley during the ongoing tribunal hearing at London's Upper Tribunal.
- Amidst the tribunal, it has been disclosed that Staley, while serving as the head of the private bank at JPMorgan, had a consensual sexual encounter with a staff member of Epstein, an allegation that first surfaced in a lawsuit filed against him by JPMorgan.
- Staley's defense argues that he was never Epstein's trustee, contradicting the FCA's assertion that Epstein intentionally asked Staley to serve in this role as evidence of their close business relationship.
