Jes Staley (64), head of the British bank Barclays, was targeted by investigators last year for years of close contact with the sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, who committed suicide in a New York prison in 2019. This Epstein connection has now cost the top banker his job – he took his hat on Monday.
Investigators took a close look at the connection between Staley and Epstein. The investigators came to preliminary results, which are available to the bank. In its notice, the bank said there was no evidence that Staley saw or was aware of any of Epstein’s alleged crimes.
Jes Staley wants to challenge the results of the investigation
The investigation is still ongoing and the accused wants to challenge the results. Still, decision makers have agreed that Staley will step down as bank director.
The Jeffrey Epstein scandal had caused quite a stir internationally. Epstein was arrested in 2019 for sex trafficking and sexual abuse of minors. Staley says his ties to Epstein ended in 2015. He regrets ever dealing with him.
Epstein is said to have brokered Stanley bank customers
Stanley had made a career at the US bank JP Morgan. There Epstein was an important private customer with access to the highest circles and is said to have referred dozens of wealthy customers to Staley according to the “New York Times”. In addition, Staley visited his friend Epstein in prison between 2008 and 2009 when he was serving a prison sentence for forced prostitution of a minor.
The former Epstein connections have cost many a celebrity their head. Many who had dealt with him had to resign from top jobs and political or royal offices. (SDA / ct)