Democrats on the House Oversight Committee said they doubt they are receiving truthful answers from Jes Staley, Jeffrey Epstein’s former private banker at JPMorgan Chase, as he testified before lawmakers investigating the federal handling of the Epstein case.
The dispute centres on Staley’s alleged relationship with Epstein, with Democrats arguing that emails and records contradict his claim that the two men were not close friends.
Staley, 69, agreed to a voluntary transcribed interview after committee chairman James Comer requested his appearance as part of the panel’s inquiry into the federal government’s handling of criminal investigations involving Epstein, the convicted sex offender who died in 2019.
Staley spent more than 30 years at JPMorgan Chase, including in private banking roles that served ultra-wealthy clients. Epstein was among them. Staley later became chief executive of Barclays in 2015.
After Epstein’s arrest and death, Staley came under scrutiny in a lawsuit brought by Epstein victims, who alleged in court filings that JPMorgan Chase and Staley ignored warning signs that helped enable Epstein to traffic women and girls. JPMorgan Chase settled the case in 2023 for $290 million without admitting wrongdoing.
British financial regulators later found that Staley had provided misleading information about the extent and timing of his relationship with Epstein. Staley stepped down from Barclays in 2021 and was later banned from Britain’s financial sector. He lost his appeal of that finding.
During the appeal proceedings, Staley acknowledged a sexual encounter with one of Epstein’s adult assistants. “We had one encounter,” he testified. “Much to my embarrassment today.”
Staley has not been charged and has denied wrongdoing. His attorney said in a 2023 court filing that claims he aided and abetted Epstein were “baseless,” adding: “The allegations against him are slanderous, and the potential damages are astronomical.”
The Justice Department has said there are “no credible allegations” or evidence that would support new federal criminal investigations.
