Former Barclays Ceo Told ‘ridiculous’ Lies Over Epstein Friendship During Committee Probe

Former Barclays Chief Executive Jes Staley grounded to person lawmakers during a closed-door legislature proceeding that he didn’t person a friendship pinch Jeffrey Epstein, committee Democrats told reporters.

Staley met pinch nan House Oversight Committee connected Thursday arsenic portion of its investigation into precocious convicted activity offender Epstein and his subordinate Ghislaine Maxwell.

"Staley is not being truthful and is level retired lying," said elder Democrat connected nan committee, California Rep. Robert Garcia, who besides alleges Staley was not answering questions nether oath.

“He is claiming that he has nary relationship pinch Epstein, which is ridiculous," he added.

Staley, who served arsenic CEO of British banking elephantine Barclays from 2015, resigned successful 2021 from nan lender pursuing a conflict complete really he handled disclosing his ties to Epstein.

The erstwhile CEO appealed against his Financial Conduct Authority manufacture prohibition for misleading nan British regulator astir those ties successful 2025, but lost.

The FCA cited complete 1,000 emails betwixt Epstein and Staley for its case, pinch examples of Staley describing Epstein arsenic “family” and calling their relationship “profound.”

Staley maintained he did person a adjacent master narration pinch Epstein but couldn’t callback sending those emails.

The ex-executive besides said he was unaware of Epstein’s crimes.

U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren has written to Barclays Chair Nigel Higgins asking for urgent answers from nan British slope complete its "apparent nonaccomplishment to meaningfully investigate" Staley's ties to Epstein.

In a connection to Reuters, a Barclays spokesperson said, "The UK regulator concluded that Barclays was misled by Staley. We conducted an investigation based connected nan accusation that was disposable to america astatine nan time."

"Since then, caller accusation has emerged that was not disposable to Barclays that demonstrates Mr. Staley misled Barclays and galore others arsenic to nan quality of nan narration pinch Epstein. That accusation relates to activities that predated his employment astatine Barclays," nan slope said.

Warren's letter, sent jointly pinch Representatives Ro Khanna of California and Raja Krishnamoorthi of Illinois, some Democrats, urged Barclays to reply questions astir really nan slope handled accusation connected nan links betwixt Staley and Epstein.

Before joining Barclays, Staley was caput of nan backstage slope astatine JPMorgan Chase wherever Epstein was 1 of his clients.

The U.S. Virgin Islands sued JPMorgan for allegedly ignoring Epstein's activity trafficking. JPMorgan denied liability and later settled nan suit without admitting wrongdoing. The slope successful move sued Staley, earlier reaching a confidential colony pinch him.

Epstein, who died successful a New York City situation successful 2019 while awaiting proceedings connected national activity trafficking charges, had extended ties to galore salient group successful politics, finance, academia and business, including U.S. President Donald Trump. His decease was ruled a suicide.

The oversight committee has interviewed figures specified arsenic erstwhile President Bill Clinton, existent Commerce Secretary and erstwhile Cantor Fitzgerald CEO Howard Lutnick and Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates, arsenic good arsenic Goldman Sachs elder counsel Kathy Ruemmler.

Staley is besides facing a suit successful Los Angeles that claims he and Barclays defrauded shareholders astir his narration pinch Epstein. The defendants person sought dismissal of nan claims.

Staley's lawyers did not instantly respond to requests for remark connected Thursday.