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10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Jes Staley.md
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@ -17,7 +17,7 @@ summary: "JPMorgan executive who managed and vouched for Jeffrey Epstein's banki
born: 1956-12-27
location: "Boston, Massachusetts"
created: 2026-06-20
updated: 2026-09-25
updated: 2026-10-04
relations:
- type: employed_by
with: "[[JPMorgan Chase]]"
@ -60,6 +60,11 @@ relations:
start: 2019-08-15
end: 2025-07-23
fn: 1
- type: received_forward_from
with: "[[Jeffrey Epstein]]"
start: 2010-12-02
role: 'received, with the single word "FYI," Epstein''s forward of a request for a banker introduction for Aria Petroleum that the Duke of York had sent him the same day'
fn: 15
---
James Edward Staley is an American banker who spent more than three decades at [[JPMorgan Chase]], rose to run its asset management and then its investment bank, and served as group chief executive of [[Barclays]] from December 2015 until November 2021. During his JPMorgan years he was the senior executive who managed and advocated for the bank's relationship with [[Jeffrey Epstein]], a private-banking client from 1998 to 2013. In a Decision Notice dated May 30, 2023 and published on October 12, 2023, the [[Financial Conduct Authority]] banned Staley from holding senior management functions in UK financial services and fined him for recklessly approving a letter that misled the regulator about his relationship with Epstein, a decision the [[Upper Tribunal]] upheld on June 26, 2025 while reducing the penalty to 1,107,306.92 pounds.[^1][^2][^3][^4]
@ -90,27 +95,29 @@ While Epstein was serving his Florida sentence in 2008, Staley sent him confiden
In a June 2010 email from London, Staley wrote to Epstein, "Andrew just sat next to me at dinner... Any word on M? This is fun," asked whether "she" was free that night, and declined a call from Epstein because "I'm w A." The tribunal received no innocent explanation from Staley and did not identify "Andrew" or "A." On December 22, 2010 [[Prince Andrew]] wrote to Staley: "Wishing you a very happy Christmas and New Year. Sorry to have missed you this week... I will be at Davos as usual."[^4][^10]
On December 2, 2010 Jeffrey Epstein forwarded Staley a message he had received that day from an account displayed as "The Duke," under the subject "Aria Petroleum." The forwarded text, signed "HRH The Duke of York KG," reads: "I should have done something about this but not sure if the office did. I am checking but as this is a US institution do you know of anyone who might like to take a look?" Beneath it was a September 30, 2010 message to Prince Andrew, copied to his private secretary [[Amanda Thirsk]], from [[Ed Scott]], managing partner of [[Concord Investment Partners]] Holdings, who wrote that he was "going on board of [[Aria Petroleum]]," described as "Central Asia's 2nd largest fuel distribution company" and "the preferred vendor of US DoD Defense Logistics," and asked for an introduction to "the appropriate senior banker at Barclays or RBS" for a "$200 million working capital line." Epstein's message to Staley, sent at 6:42 PM (displayed from "Jeevacation"), consisted of "FYI."[^15] The document bears the production legend "Confidential Treatment Requested by JPMorgan Chase."[^15]
### The 2011 Retention
In 2011 the bank's anti-money-laundering staff asked to exit Epstein, and an internal email said the decision to keep him was "all due to Jes's personal relationship." The tribunal recorded internal evidence that general counsel Stephen Cutler believed Epstein "would have been exited as a client of JPM had not Mr Staley vouched for him," and found it more likely than not that Staley's advocacy caused the retention; Staley testified that Cutler had full latitude to exit Epstein and that he would not have stood in his way. Staley admitted in cross-examination that he knew of and discussed with Epstein the bank's 2011 concern about Epstein's "atypical cash withdrawals" and the trafficking allegations, contrary to his witness statement. An August 4, 2011 internal meeting concluded that the private bank's chief executive, [[John Duffy]], would "reach out to Jes Staley and advise that we exit while things are a bit settled."[^4][^7][^10]
During the same weeks Epstein was pitching Staley and Erdoes on business. On July 27, 2011 he wrote to both, copying [[Boris Nikolic]], the chief science and technology adviser to Bill Gates, that for a proposed charitable fund "the mimimum donation would be 100 million," that "a portfolio will be established for each donor," and that "the charitable fees. audit fees, investment mgmt fees, trustee fees, will all be JPM."[^15] On August 27, 2011 he told them that senior staff of the Gates foundation "say they are getting confusing messages from JPM. They say that JPM wants to use the current foundation to do other things," and closed, "There are too many people without direction. lets speak,,"[^16]
During the same weeks Epstein was pitching Staley and Erdoes on business. On July 27, 2011 he wrote to both, copying [[Boris Nikolic]], the chief science and technology adviser to Bill Gates, that for a proposed charitable fund "the mimimum donation would be 100 million," that "a portfolio will be established for each donor," and that "the charitable fees. audit fees, investment mgmt fees, trustee fees, will all be JPM."[^16] On August 27, 2011 he told them that senior staff of the Gates foundation "say they are getting confusing messages from JPM. They say that JPM wants to use the current foundation to do other things," and closed, "There are too many people without direction. lets speak,,"[^17]
### Project Jeep
After *[[The New York Times]]* reported on Epstein's Wall Street ties on July 22, 2019, JPMorgan's financial-crimes compliance unit began an internal review, later called Project Jeep, whose trade-surveillance staff summarized 222 email exchanges, most of them between Epstein and Staley, in a 22-page document dated September 17, 2019 and circulated on October 27 and 28, 2019. Its first heading read: "Jes Staley appears to have a close relationship with Jeffrey Epstein, regularly communicating with him and seeking advice from him including while Epstein is incarcerated."[^17][^18][^19] Two items were singled out in the cover email. Under that heading, the reviewers quoted Epstein's December 30, 2008 message offering Staley his house while he was in custody ("everyone is gone except the housekeepers, you are more than welcome to use the house . you will be well looked after. the chef from paris is there"), and Staley's reply the next day that he had "asked Rosa to make a date free in early January for me to visit the Palm Beach office and spend some time with you." Under a heading on comments that "may have the appearance of relating to inappropriate behavior with one reference between Epstein and Staley to a modeling agency," they placed an August 27 to 29, 2009 exchange in which Staley wrote that he would be "In London with Jamie, mid week," Epstein asked "how long london? Do you need anything there?" and Staley answered "Yep," beside a 3,000 dollar wire from Epstein's JPMorgan account on August 29, 2009 to a woman in [[Lithuania]] associated with a ballet company there, who had received 2,000 dollars from Epstein on January 8, 2009.[^18] JPMorgan's counsel told the court that the summary was prepared after Epstein's death by employees with no contemporaneous knowledge of the relationship.[^19]
After *[[The New York Times]]* reported on Epstein's Wall Street ties on July 22, 2019, JPMorgan's financial-crimes compliance unit began an internal review, later called Project Jeep, whose trade-surveillance staff summarized 222 email exchanges, most of them between Epstein and Staley, in a 22-page document dated September 17, 2019 and circulated on October 27 and 28, 2019. Its first heading read: "Jes Staley appears to have a close relationship with Jeffrey Epstein, regularly communicating with him and seeking advice from him including while Epstein is incarcerated."[^18][^19][^20] Two items were singled out in the cover email. Under that heading, the reviewers quoted Epstein's December 30, 2008 message offering Staley his house while he was in custody ("everyone is gone except the housekeepers, you are more than welcome to use the house . you will be well looked after. the chef from paris is there"), and Staley's reply the next day that he had "asked Rosa to make a date free in early January for me to visit the Palm Beach office and spend some time with you." Under a heading on comments that "may have the appearance of relating to inappropriate behavior with one reference between Epstein and Staley to a modeling agency," they placed an August 27 to 29, 2009 exchange in which Staley wrote that he would be "In London with Jamie, mid week," Epstein asked "how long london? Do you need anything there?" and Staley answered "Yep," beside a 3,000 dollar wire from Epstein's JPMorgan account on August 29, 2009 to a woman in [[Lithuania]] associated with a ballet company there, who had received 2,000 dollars from Epstein on January 8, 2009.[^19] JPMorgan's counsel told the court that the summary was prepared after Epstein's death by employees with no contemporaneous knowledge of the relationship.[^20]
In its October 10, 2025 letter to Senator [[Ron Wyden]], JPMorgan stated that "with the exception of former JPMC executive Jes Staley, the Firm's executives (current and former) are respected professionals who acted with integrity," described Staley as the only person claiming Dimon knew of Epstein before 2019, and quoted the tribunal's finding that he "lacked credibility."[^20] Wyden's August 2026 report named Staley among thirteen bankers whose conduct it said merited investigation.[^7]
In its October 10, 2025 letter to Senator [[Ron Wyden]], JPMorgan stated that "with the exception of former JPMC executive Jes Staley, the Firm's executives (current and former) are respected professionals who acted with integrity," described Staley as the only person claiming Dimon knew of Epstein before 2019, and quoted the tribunal's finding that he "lacked credibility."[^21] Wyden's August 2026 report named Staley among thirteen bankers whose conduct it said merited investigation.[^7]
### Barclays and the FCA Ban
While Barclays chief executive, Staley was separately sanctioned for attempting to identify a whistleblower who had sent letters criticizing a senior Barclays hire; in 2018 the FCA and the [[Prudential Regulation Authority]] fined him 642,430 pounds and Barclays cut his pay.[^21] Staley remained chief executive until November 2021, when he resigned as the FCA and PRA conclusions about his Epstein relationship became known.[^2]
While Barclays chief executive, Staley was separately sanctioned for attempting to identify a whistleblower who had sent letters criticizing a senior Barclays hire; in 2018 the FCA and the [[Prudential Regulation Authority]] fined him 642,430 pounds and Barclays cut his pay.[^22] Staley remained chief executive until November 2021, when he resigned as the FCA and PRA conclusions about his Epstein relationship became known.[^2]
On February 13, 2020, the morning the FCA's inquiry into how Staley had described the relationship became public, a business editor at the London newspaper *i* asked the [[Federal Bureau of Investigation|FBI]] National Press Office whether Staley had been asked to cooperate with its Epstein investigation. An FBI New York public affairs specialist replied that "it's not something we'd be able to comment on," and forwarded the query internally as "news of the day." A member of the [[U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York]] answered the FBI forward: "The FCA reached out to me this morning to give me a heads up as well. We too will not comment if asked."[^22]
On February 13, 2020, the morning the FCA's inquiry into how Staley had described the relationship became public, a business editor at the London newspaper *i* asked the [[Federal Bureau of Investigation|FBI]] National Press Office whether Staley had been asked to cooperate with its Epstein investigation. An FBI New York public affairs specialist replied that "it's not something we'd be able to comment on," and forwarded the query internally as "news of the day." A member of the [[U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York]] answered the FBI forward: "The FCA reached out to me this morning to give me a heads up as well. We too will not comment if asked."[^23]
The FCA's case centered on an October 8, 2019 letter that Barclays sent to the regulator after an FCA call on August 15, 2019, which Staley reviewed on October 6 and approved by email on October 7 as "comfortable with the language," stating that he "did not have a close relationship" with Epstein and had "ceased contact" with Epstein before joining Barclays.[^1] The FCA found those statements misleading, citing emails in which Staley described Epstein as one of his "deepest" and "most cherished" friends, and evidence that Staley was in contact with Epstein in the days before his Barclays appointment was announced on October 28, 2015, and indirectly in 2016 and 2017.[^1] On October 8, 2015, before the appointment was public, Staley told Epstein that the Barclays board's nominations committee had approved it, and their emails continued until October 25, 2015; Staley had described the April 2015 visit to Barclays colleagues as his last contact. The FCA's Decision Notice, dated May 30, 2023 and published on October 12, 2023, banned Staley from senior management functions and set a penalty of 1,812,862 pounds: 30 percent of his 5,493,526 pounds in relevant income from October 2018 to October 2019, raised 10 percent for his 2018 whistleblower sanction, with no settlement discount because the parties did not agree at the first stage. Staley referred the decision to the tribunal, which suspended its effect.[^1][^2]
The Upper Tribunal heard Staley's reference and, on June 26, 2025, dismissed it and upheld the prohibition, finding that he had acted recklessly and with a lack of integrity and that the evidence of his Epstein relationship was "overwhelming."[^3] The tribunal reduced the financial penalty from 1,812,862 pounds to 1,107,306.92 pounds, reflecting deferred Barclays shares that he forfeited, and applied the standard that recklessness as to the truth of statements on which others may rely amounts to a lack of integrity without proof of dishonesty. The FCA's Final Notice of July 23, 2025 imposed the prohibition from that date and required payment by August 6, 2025.[^3][^4][^23] During the proceedings Staley testified that he had a sexual encounter with a member of Epstein's staff years earlier, and he maintained that he had not been dishonest.[^24]
The Upper Tribunal heard Staley's reference and, on June 26, 2025, dismissed it and upheld the prohibition, finding that he had acted recklessly and with a lack of integrity and that the evidence of his Epstein relationship was "overwhelming."[^3] The tribunal reduced the financial penalty from 1,812,862 pounds to 1,107,306.92 pounds, reflecting deferred Barclays shares that he forfeited, and applied the standard that recklessness as to the truth of statements on which others may rely amounts to a lack of integrity without proof of dishonesty. The FCA's Final Notice of July 23, 2025 imposed the prohibition from that date and required payment by August 6, 2025.[^3][^4][^24] During the proceedings Staley testified that he had a sexual encounter with a member of Epstein's staff years earlier, and he maintained that he had not been dishonest.[^25]
### Footnotes
@ -128,13 +135,14 @@ The Upper Tribunal heard Staley's reference and, on June 26, 2025, dismissed it
[^12]: "JPMorgan Sues Ex-Executive Associated With Jeffrey Epstein," *Time,* 2023. https://time.com/6261243/jpmorgan-lawsuit-jes-staley-epstein-trafficking/
[^13]: "Jes Staley Says JPMorgan Using Him as 'Shield' for Epstein Failures," *U.S. News & World Report / Reuters,* 2023. https://www.usnews.com/news/top-news/articles/2023-04-24/jes-staley-seeks-to-dismiss-jpmorgan-chase-lawsuit-over-jeffrey-epstein
[^14]: Deposition of James Dimon, May 26, 2023, Government of the United States Virgin Islands v. JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., No. 1:22-cv-10904-JSR (S.D.N.Y.), transcript pp. 261-269. https://assets.bwbx.io/documents/users/iqjWHBFdfxIU/rQOuhi8KqiM0/v0
[^15]: U.S. Department of Justice, Epstein Library, EFTA01861564, DataSet 10, email from Jeffrey Epstein to Jes Staley and Mary Erdoes, cc Boris Nikolic, July 27, 2011. https://www.justice.gov/epstein/files/DataSet%2010/EFTA01861564.pdf
[^16]: U.S. Department of Justice, Epstein Library, EFTA00918200, DataSet 9, email from Jeffrey Epstein to Jes Staley and Mary Erdoes, August 27, 2011. https://www.justice.gov/epstein/files/DataSet%209/EFTA00918200.pdf
[^17]: U.S. Department of Justice, Epstein Library, EFTA02808715, Court Records (Government of the United States Virgin Islands v. JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., No. 1:22-cv-10904), letter motion of Motley Rice to Judge Jed S. Rakoff seeking leave to reopen depositions, ECF No. 191, June 7, 2023 (filed June 20, 2023). https://www.justice.gov/epstein/files/Court%20Records/Government%20of%20the%20United%20States%20Virgin%20Islands%20v.%20JPMorgan%20Chase%20Bank%2C%20N.A.%2C%20No.%20122-cv-10904%20(S.D.N.Y.%202022)/EFTA02808715.pdf
[^18]: U.S. Department of Justice, Epstein Library, EFTA02808647, Court Records (Government of the United States Virgin Islands v. JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., No. 1:22-cv-10904), Exhibit 3 to ECF No. 191, email "Project Jeep Current Review," October 27-28, 2019 (JPM-SDNYLIT-00901997). https://www.justice.gov/epstein/files/Court%20Records/Government%20of%20the%20United%20States%20Virgin%20Islands%20v.%20JPMorgan%20Chase%20Bank%2C%20N.A.%2C%20No.%20122-cv-10904%20(S.D.N.Y.%202022)/EFTA02808647.pdf
[^19]: U.S. Department of Justice, Epstein Library, EFTA02808625, Court Records (Government of the United States Virgin Islands v. JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., No. 1:22-cv-10904), letter of John J. Butts, WilmerHale, opposing the motion to reopen depositions, ECF No. 187, June 9, 2023 (filed June 15, 2023). https://www.justice.gov/epstein/files/Court%20Records/Government%20of%20the%20United%20States%20Virgin%20Islands%20v.%20JPMorgan%20Chase%20Bank%2C%20N.A.%2C%20No.%20122-cv-10904%20(S.D.N.Y.%202022)/EFTA02808625.pdf
[^20]: Letter from JPMorgan Chase & Co. to Senator Ron Wyden, Ranking Member, Committee on Finance, October 10, 2025. https://www.finance.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/101025jpmcresponsetowyden.pdf
[^21]: "Ex-Barclays CEO Staley's lifetime FCA ban to remain," *Banking Dive,* 2025. https://www.bankingdive.com/news/jes-staley-fca-lifetime-ban-banking-epstein-barclays-uk/751754/
[^22]: U.S. Department of Justice, Epstein Library, EFTA00079559, DataSet 9, FBI New York and USANYS email chain "Jeffrey Epstein case: Jes Staley (Barclays)," February 13, 2020. https://www.justice.gov/epstein/files/DataSet%209/EFTA00079559.pdf
[^23]: Financial Conduct Authority, Final Notice to James Edward Staley, Reference JXS02208, July 23, 2025. https://www.fca.org.uk/publication/final-notices/james-edward-staley-2025.pdf
[^24]: "Former Barclays CEO Jes Staley slept with Epstein assistant, court hears," *Yahoo / PA Media,* 2025. https://www.yahoo.com/news/former-barclays-ceo-jes-staley-181703399.html
[^15]: U.S. Department of Justice, Epstein Library, EFTA01256235, DataSet 9, "Fwd: Aria Petroleum," December 2, 2010 (Bates JPM-SDNY-00001227); the Duke's message also at EFTA02415338, DataSet 11. https://www.justice.gov/epstein/files/DataSet%209/EFTA01256235.pdf
[^16]: U.S. Department of Justice, Epstein Library, EFTA01861564, DataSet 10, email from Jeffrey Epstein to Jes Staley and Mary Erdoes, cc Boris Nikolic, July 27, 2011. https://www.justice.gov/epstein/files/DataSet%2010/EFTA01861564.pdf
[^17]: U.S. Department of Justice, Epstein Library, EFTA00918200, DataSet 9, email from Jeffrey Epstein to Jes Staley and Mary Erdoes, August 27, 2011. https://www.justice.gov/epstein/files/DataSet%209/EFTA00918200.pdf
[^18]: U.S. Department of Justice, Epstein Library, EFTA02808715, Court Records (Government of the United States Virgin Islands v. JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., No. 1:22-cv-10904), letter motion of Motley Rice to Judge Jed S. Rakoff seeking leave to reopen depositions, ECF No. 191, June 7, 2023 (filed June 20, 2023). https://www.justice.gov/epstein/files/Court%20Records/Government%20of%20the%20United%20States%20Virgin%20Islands%20v.%20JPMorgan%20Chase%20Bank%2C%20N.A.%2C%20No.%20122-cv-10904%20(S.D.N.Y.%202022)/EFTA02808715.pdf
[^19]: U.S. Department of Justice, Epstein Library, EFTA02808647, Court Records (Government of the United States Virgin Islands v. JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., No. 1:22-cv-10904), Exhibit 3 to ECF No. 191, email "Project Jeep Current Review," October 27-28, 2019 (JPM-SDNYLIT-00901997). https://www.justice.gov/epstein/files/Court%20Records/Government%20of%20the%20United%20States%20Virgin%20Islands%20v.%20JPMorgan%20Chase%20Bank%2C%20N.A.%2C%20No.%20122-cv-10904%20(S.D.N.Y.%202022)/EFTA02808647.pdf
[^20]: U.S. Department of Justice, Epstein Library, EFTA02808625, Court Records (Government of the United States Virgin Islands v. JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., No. 1:22-cv-10904), letter of John J. Butts, WilmerHale, opposing the motion to reopen depositions, ECF No. 187, June 9, 2023 (filed June 15, 2023). https://www.justice.gov/epstein/files/Court%20Records/Government%20of%20the%20United%20States%20Virgin%20Islands%20v.%20JPMorgan%20Chase%20Bank%2C%20N.A.%2C%20No.%20122-cv-10904%20(S.D.N.Y.%202022)/EFTA02808625.pdf
[^21]: Letter from JPMorgan Chase & Co. to Senator Ron Wyden, Ranking Member, Committee on Finance, October 10, 2025. https://www.finance.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/101025jpmcresponsetowyden.pdf
[^22]: "Ex-Barclays CEO Staley's lifetime FCA ban to remain," *Banking Dive,* 2025. https://www.bankingdive.com/news/jes-staley-fca-lifetime-ban-banking-epstein-barclays-uk/751754/
[^23]: U.S. Department of Justice, Epstein Library, EFTA00079559, DataSet 9, FBI New York and USANYS email chain "Jeffrey Epstein case: Jes Staley (Barclays)," February 13, 2020. https://www.justice.gov/epstein/files/DataSet%209/EFTA00079559.pdf
[^24]: Financial Conduct Authority, Final Notice to James Edward Staley, Reference JXS02208, July 23, 2025. https://www.fca.org.uk/publication/final-notices/james-edward-staley-2025.pdf
[^25]: "Former Barclays CEO Jes Staley slept with Epstein assistant, court hears," *Yahoo / PA Media,* 2025. https://www.yahoo.com/news/former-barclays-ceo-jes-staley-181703399.html