Jes Staley

James Edward "Jes" Staley is a former American banker who spent 34 years at JPMorgan Chase, rising to head its private banking and investment banking divisions, before serving as CEO of Barclays from 2015 to 2021. Staley's relationship with Jeffrey Epstein, whom he first met around 2000 when Epstein became a client of JPMorgan's private bank, ultimately led to his departure from Barclays and a lifetime ban from holding senior roles in UK financial services. The archive documents over 6,000 emails between Staley and Epstein spanning from 2009 to 2015, revealing what the UK's Financial Conduct Authority later characterized as a "profound" friendship that Staley misrepresented to regulators. In 2023, the FCA found that Staley recklessly approved misleading statements about his ties to Epstein, fining him £1.8 million and banning him from senior management positions—a decision upheld on appeal in June 2025. Staley has also admitted in court to having sex with a member of Epstein's staff and visited Epstein's private island in the Virgin Islands.

Background#

Born in Boston in 1956, Staley graduated from Bowdoin College in Maine with a degree in economics in 1979 and immediately joined JPMorgan's commercial banking training program. After a stint in Brazil in the early 1980s, he rose through the ranks to become CEO of JPMorgan's Asset Management division (2001-2009), head of the Private Bank (1999-2001), and eventually CEO of the Investment Bank (2009-2013). During his tenure, Staley managed relationships with high-net-worth clients and was responsible for Epstein's account at JPMorgan from around 2000 until Epstein was terminated as a client in 2013.

After leaving JPMorgan in 2013, Staley joined the hedge fund BlueMountain Capital as managing partner. In October 2015, he was appointed CEO of Barclays, a position he assumed on December 1, 2015. Media inquiries about Epstein's role in Staley's candidacy emerged immediately before the appointment was announced. Staley resigned from Barclays in November 2021 following preliminary findings from the FCA's investigation into his relationship with Epstein. In May 2023, he signed a trustee document for Epstein's estate, raising questions about the depth of their entanglement. In 2025, a rape allegation against Staley was disclosed in a US prosecutors' memo referencing a woman's claim that "Epstein instructed [redacted] to provide a massage to Jes Staley in Epstein's New York residence" and that "he forced himself on her."

Correspondence with Epstein#

The archive contains extensive correspondence between Staley and Epstein from 2009 through October 2015, documenting a close personal and professional relationship that continued well beyond Staley's departure from JPMorgan.

Expressions of Friendship

The emails reveal frequent exchanges characterized by personal warmth. In October 2015, as media scrutiny of his Barclays appointment intensified, Staley wrote to Epstein: "You never wavered in our friendship these last three years. That means a lot to me", thanking him and asking him to "Cross your toes!!!" In October 2009, after New Year plans, Epstein wrote "we are going to have fun" in response to Staley's message. The correspondence continued through Epstein's 2008 incarceration and plea deal. According to the FCA's findings, in emails Staley described Epstein as one of his "deepest" and "most cherished" friends.

Barclays CEO Appointment (October 2015)

In early October 2015, as Staley's appointment to Barclays neared finalization, he kept Epstein closely informed. On October 8, Staley wrote: "Nominating com approved. Friday, full board votes. I should have the contract by the weekend. We're very close". Epstein responded "holy shit".

When reporter Simon Watkins from the Mail on Sunday began inquiring about Epstein's role in Staley's candidacy, Epstein immediately forwarded the inquiry to Staley. The reporter wrote that he understood Epstein had "played a significant role in Jes Staley's candidacy for this job, and indeed played a similar role in 2012, lobbying board members at Barclays as well as banking authorities in the UK". Between October 16-17, 2015, as press inquiries intensified, Staley and Epstein exchanged rapid messages. Epstein wrote about his "last time at my House with gates and summers", to which Staley replied "If asked can I say that. But I won't". Staley reassured Epstein: "Don't worry. We will be fine" and later "Ok. I'm going to play is simple. I've known you as a client. I will tell B tomorrow". On October 15, Staley wrote: "The press is all over me. Trying to lie low. Sorry". After a Daily Mail article was published with the headline referencing "Andrew's billionaire paedophile friend," Staley forwarded it to Epstein, who responded "Xx".

Social and Professional Coordination

The emails document frequent coordination of meetings and social engagements. In September 2013, Epstein listed "ehud barack, jes staley, . josh ramo" among people he wanted to schedule with Ariane de Rothschild in New York. A November 2012 breakfast featured Ehud Barak at 8:30am with "Jes Staley to join breakfast" at 9:00am. In January 2014, Staley joined a meeting with Ariane de Rothschild at Epstein's residence at 6:00pm. An April 2013 dinner at Epstein's townhouse included Woody Allen, Soon Yi, Ehud Barak, Peter Mandelson, Jes Staley, and Mort Zuckerman. In May 2011, Staley was scheduled for dinner with Bill Gates, Larry Summers, and Staley at 9:00pm.

Epstein's assistants frequently coordinated Staley's visits to Epstein's properties. In September 2013, Staley came to Epstein's house for a walk at 4:00pm. In January 2015, assistants confirmed "Jes Staley is confirmed to come see you at 5pm on Friday" with instructions to have "his white wine on hand."

"Snow White" Exchange (July 2010)

In July 2010, following what Staley described as "That was fun," he wrote to Epstein: "Say hi to Snow White". Epstein responded: "what character would you like next". Staley replied: "Beauty and the Beast". Epstein answered: "well one side is availble". This exchange, disclosed during Staley's appeal hearings, has been interpreted as a reference to young women, though Staley has maintained he was unaware of Epstein's criminal activities. Email records show that around the same time, Epstein asked an unnamed individual to buy a Snow White costume.

Connections#

Staley's correspondence intersects extensively with other figures in Epstein's network:

Mary Erdoes (179 shared emails) — Erdoes was CEO of JPMorgan's Asset & Wealth Management division and also visited Epstein's residences. Derivative litigation alleges she had knowledge of Epstein's activities by 2006.

Lesley Groff (80 shared emails) — Epstein's longtime assistant who coordinated Staley's appointments and visits.

Peter Mandelson (23 shared emails) — British politician who attended multiple dinners and meetings where both Staley and Epstein were present. In July 2010, Mandelson wrote to Epstein about Staley: "Nice guy, jes".

Boris Nikolic (16 shared emails) — Epstein's science advisor with whom Staley had overlapping correspondence.

Ehud Barak — Former Israeli Prime Minister who attended multiple meetings and meals with Staley at Epstein's properties. In 2017, Staley reached out to Barak about visiting Tel Aviv, and Barak responded warmly, though the two did not connect on that occasion.

John McFarlane (8 shared emails) — Barclays Chairman who supported Staley during the 2017 whistleblower controversy. In May 2017, correspondence between them (later revealed as a prankster impersonating McFarlane) showed Staley expressing deep gratitude for McFarlane's defense during a difficult board meeting.

Document References#

Staley appears prominently in derivative litigation filed against JPMorgan Chase in May 2023 by pension fund shareholders. The complaint alleges that Staley, as head of JPMorgan's private bank and later its investment bank, "shared a deep personal friendship with Epstein" and that he "could not have sustained and concealed a 15+ year banking relationship involving tens of millions of dollars without the knowledge and assistance of others within JP Morgan." The suit claims Staley was tasked with "managing Epstein as a client" and that despite compliance concerns raised internally about Epstein's suspicious cash withdrawals and payments, Staley vouched for him. JPMorgan subsequently filed third-party claims against Staley, arguing that if the bank is liable for Epstein's conduct, Staley should be held responsible. These cases were settled in September 2023, with JPMorgan paying $75 million to the US Virgin Islands and reaching a confidential settlement with Staley.

The UK Financial Conduct Authority issued a Decision Notice in October 2023 finding that Staley recklessly approved a letter to the FCA in 2019 that contained two misleading statements: that he did not have a close relationship with Epstein, and that his last contact with Epstein occurred well before he joined Barclays in 2015. The FCA determined these statements were false, noting that Staley was in email contact with Epstein until October 25, 2015, just days before his Barclays appointment was announced, and that their relationship was characterized by substantial personal exchanges. After Staley appealed, the Upper Tribunal upheld the ban in June 2025, finding "overwhelming evidence" of a close relationship and concluding that Staley "knew, when he approved the Letter, that its contents were factually inaccurate."

During the 2025 appeal hearing, Staley admitted under oath that he had sex with a member of Epstein's staff at an apartment owned by Epstein's brother. He claimed the encounters were consensual and that Epstein did not know about them, though he acknowledged meeting the woman through Epstein. A February 2026 report disclosed a US prosecutors' memo containing an allegation that Epstein instructed a woman to give Staley a massage at Epstein's New York residence and that Staley "forced himself on her."

Visits to Epstein Properties#

Manhattan Townhouse

The archive documents extensive visits to Epstein's Manhattan townhouse at 9 East 71st Street:

1. May 2, 2011 — Dinner with Bill Gates, Larry Summers, and Staley (schedule)
2. November 20, 2012 — Dinner with Staley at 7:30pm (calendar)
3. November 28, 2012 — Breakfast with Ehud Barak at 8:30am, Staley joining at 9:00am (schedule)
4. April 4, 2013 — Dinner including Woody Allen, Soon Yi, Ehud Barak, Peter Mandelson, Staley, and Mort Zuckerman (correspondence)
5. September 19, 2013 — Walk with Staley at 4:00pm (schedule)
6. January 7, 2014 — Meeting with Ariane de Rothschild at 4:30-7:00pm, Staley joining at 6:00pm (schedule)
7. January 23, 2015 — Visit confirmed for 5pm (correspondence)
8. October 14, 2015 — Proposed meeting around 3-4pm with Larry Summers and Ehud Barak (correspondence)

Little St. James Island (US Virgin Islands)

The archive and court documents reveal multiple visits to Epstein's private island:

1. January 2010 — Staley emailed Epstein: "Arrived at your harbor. Someday, we have to do this together". Later that day, Staley wrote "That was cool", to which Epstein responded "yup„ great seeing you.. reminder henry jareckimm guana island and hotel. and norman island„ I can orgainze a tour of each".

2. January 2011 — Following correspondence about a planned visit, Epstein wrote to Staley: "You are welcome to use jetskis snorkels movies boats [sic]" and "Atv's jet skis use the island, full gym up and running". Epstein then asked "did you like the kitchen", to which Staley responded: "Terrific. Lots of workers. What a paradise. When I retire, I'm going to put a mooring in front of your dock for my boat".

3. June 2012 — Epstein's assistant asked if Staley "would like to visit you on your island" for the weekend of June 16-17. Epstein confirmed "yes".

4. 2015 visits — Barclays confirmed to the Wall Street Journal that "Mr. Staley visited Little St. James twice, accompanied by his wife on both visits" and that these visits "were disclosed to the board."

Other Properties

• Palm Beach residence: No specific visits documented in available emails, though JPMorgan compliance documents reference Epstein's Florida operations.
• New Mexico ranch: No visits documented in the archive.
• Paris apartment: No visits documented, though Staley traveled to Paris for business in March 2010 and coordinated with Epstein about it.

Criminal Activity#

The documented correspondence and conduct falls within the scope of several federal criminal statutes, as outlined at Criminal Statutes:

Misprision of Felony (18 U.S.C. § 4): Staley's continued close relationship with Epstein following Epstein's 2008 conviction and registration as a sex offender, combined with his efforts to conceal the nature of that relationship from regulators in 2019—describing it as not close and claiming contact had ceased well before joining Barclays when emails show contact continued through October 2015—presents conduct within the scope of this statute, which prohibits concealing knowledge of a felony and taking affirmative steps to hide it.

Obstruction of Justice (18 U.S.C. § 1503, 1512): The FCA's finding that Staley "recklessly approved" misleading statements to financial regulators investigating his Epstein relationship, specifically misrepresenting both the closeness of the relationship and the timing of their last contact, documents conduct that could obstruct regulatory investigations into Epstein-related activities.

Aiding and Abetting/Accessory After the Fact (18 U.S.C. § 2, 3): Staley's role at JPMorgan included vouching for Epstein when compliance officers raised concerns about suspicious cash withdrawals and transactions, and continuing their personal friendship after Epstein's 2008 conviction. Derivative litigation alleges Staley "pushed JP Morgan to keep Epstein as client despite human trafficking concerns", conduct that facilitated Epstein's continued banking relationship from 2008 to 2013.

Sex Trafficking Conspiracy/Participation (18 U.S.C. §§ 1591, 1594): A US prosecutors' memo contains an allegation that "Epstein instructed [redacted] to provide a massage to Jes Staley in Epstein's New York residence" and that Staley "forced himself on her," conduct that if proven would constitute participation in Epstein's sex trafficking operation. The "Snow White"/"Beauty and the Beast" email exchange in July 2010, occurring shortly after an event Staley described as "fun" and Epstein's question about "what character would you like next", suggests knowledge of and potential participation in Epstein's provision of young women to associates.