JPMorgan Chase suspected former Barclays Plc chief Jes Staley’s role in Jeffrey Epstein’s criminal acts, newly emerged leads indicate. The banking behemoth, which had previous financial relationships with Epstein, allegedly reported Staley’s possible involvement in the scandal, with questions surrounding his contact with the convicted sex offender.
Internal probes and court documents indicate Staley was more connected to Epstein than has been previously admitted, with emails and other material pointing to his awareness or participation in Epstein’s illegal activities. The disclosure comes as JPMorgan is still under scrutiny for its history of interactions with Epstein, who was indicted for sex trafficking of minors before his suspicious death.
Staley has never admitted to wrongdoing, but the ongoing legal battle highlights Wall Street’s historical connections to Epstein. The new allegations may ratchet up regulatory pressure on banks to reevaluate their prior relationships with scandalous characters.