Barclays Exec Admits to Sexual Encounter with Epstein Staff Member

Jes Staley, the former CEO of Barclays, has revealed in court that he had a sexual encounter with a member of Jeffrey Epstein's staff.

This admission came during Staley's appeal against a proposed ban from the financial services industry and a £1.8 million ($2.3 million) fine imposed by Britain's Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) in 2023.

The 68-year-old banker, who maintains he was unaware of Epstein's "monstrous activities," is currently testifying at London's Upper Tribunal. The FCA's lawyer, Leigh-Ann Mulcahy, questioned Staley about evidence he provided in a separate lawsuit involving his former employer, JPMorgan.

Staley confirmed that he was introduced to the woman by Epstein and described the encounter as consensual, stating, "she was a part of his staff as I recall." The incident reportedly took place at an apartment owned by Epstein's brother in New York.

The FCA's case against Staley centers on a 2019 letter sent by Barclays to the regulator, which allegedly contained misleading statements about Staley's relationship with Epstein. The authority has presented over 1,000 emails exchanged between Staley and Epstein as evidence of their close relationship.

Staley continues to maintain that the statements in the 2019 letter were accurate, despite the FCA's allegations. The case has shed light on the complex relationships between high-profile executives and Epstein, who died in jail in 2019 while awaiting trial for sex trafficking charges.