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(Bloomberg) — Jes Staley has disclosed that he engaged in a sexual relationship with a woman employed by Jeffrey Epstein during the time he spent at a New York apartment owned by Epstein’s brother.
This statement emerged as part of his ongoing legal dispute with UK regulatory bodies. The former CEO of Barclays Plc stated that the relationship with the woman was consensual, asserting that he believed Epstein was unaware it was occurring.
During the proceedings, a representative from the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) indicated that the woman had previously pursued a claim against Epstein’s estate, noting that she had requested to exclude Staley from any potential settlement agreements.
When questioned about his presence at the apartment, Staley confirmed that he had only visited once. He elaborated that he had developed a rapport with the woman while awaiting Epstein, who had a reputation for tardiness in their meetings. Staley served at JPMorgan Chase & Co. until 2013, where Epstein was a client.
Currently, Staley is fighting against a lifetime ban imposed by the UK financial regulator. This ban was instituted after the FCA concluded that he had “recklessly misled” officials about his associations with Epstein, who died in 2019 while incarcerated in New York. Staley has consistently denied any knowledge of Epstein’s illegal activities.
The FCA clarified that it was not asking the court to explore whether Staley had any involvement or knowledge of Epstein’s crimes. Instead, it aimed to use the incident to illustrate the close nature of their relationship, which it argued transcended mere professional boundaries.
On the same day, Staley was also confronted with a well-publicized email interaction he had with Epstein, wherein they exchanged comments about Disney characters.
In an email from July 2010, Staley noted to Epstein, “That was fun. Say hi to Snow White.” Epstein replied, “What character would you like next?” Staley suggested, “Beauty and the Beast…,” to which Epstein amusingly responded, “Well one side is available [sic].” This exchange came to light in an unrelated legal case that has since been resolved.
In his testimony, Staley described the emails as peculiar, claiming not to remember them. However, FCA attorney Leigh-Ann Mulcahy stated, “They would not be sent between two people who were not close,” reinforcing the regulator’s position regarding the nature of Staley and Epstein’s relationship.
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finance.yahoo.com