Who Is Jes Staley?
James “Jes” Staley is an American banker who rose to become one of Wall Street’s most prominent executives:
- Managing Director at JPMorgan Chase (where he led private banking)
- CEO of Barclays (2015–2021)
The Relationship Duration and Depth
Staley met Epstein through JPMorgan’s private banking division, where Epstein was a major client. Their relationship endured for over a decade:
- They exchanged approximately 1,200 emails over their relationship (per USVI lawsuit filings)
- Staley visited Little Saint James island at least once
- The two maintained regular personal contact beyond banking business
The Emails
The content of their email exchanges became central to the USVI’s lawsuit against JPMorgan. Per court documents, some emails:
- Used language suggesting familiarity with the activities at Epstein’s properties
- Referenced young women in ways prosecutors argued indicated knowledge of trafficking
- Showed Staley advocating internally to retain Epstein as a JPMorgan client even after his 2008 conviction
Staley’s Advocacy for Epstein at JPMorgan
After Epstein’s 2008 conviction, compliance concerns were raised internally at JPMorgan. According to the USVI lawsuit, Staley played a significant role in persuading JPMorgan to:
- Continue banking Epstein after his sex offender conviction
- Maintain the relationship despite multiple Suspicious Activity Reports
- Delay closing Epstein’s accounts until 2013
Barclays Regulatory Action
When Staley was Barclays CEO, the UK financial regulator (FCA) investigated him for:
- Attempting to identify a whistleblower at Barclays
- His relationship with Epstein (which Barclays’ board was not fully informed about)
Staley resigned from Barclays in November 2021. The FCA imposed a fine of approximately £1.8 million in 2023.
JPMorgan Settlement
JPMorgan settled the USVI’s lawsuit for approximately $75 million in 2023. The settlement did not require JPMorgan to admit liability but acknowledged the bank’s failure to act on trafficking red flags.