Ex-Barclays boss Jes Staley used his daughter as a 'vehicle of communication' to maintain contact with paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein, tribunal hears
Jes Staley used his daughter as a 'vehicle of communication' to maintain contact with Jeffrey Epstein after taking the top job at Barclays, a court has heard.
The 68-year-old claims he had a 'professional' relationship with the disgraced financier, and he cut all ties with him before he became the bank's chief executive in December 2015.
But the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) told London's Upper Tribunal today that the former boss had 'ongoing, indirect contact' with the convicted sex offender up until 2017.
It also claimed a bombshell cache of emails showed that he told the serial paedophile via his eldest daughter Alexa that he intended to visit him after serving a year at Barclays.
Mr Staley denied the claims as he fights to overturn a finance industry ban and £1.8m fine imposed by the FCA after it found he 'recklessly misled' it over his links to the late paedophile.
At the heart of the case is a 2019 letter from Barclays to the FCA which said that Mr Staley did not have a 'close' relationship with Epstein and ceased contact with him 'well before 'before joining it.
But Leigh-Ann Mulcahy KC, for the FCA, said the men had remained close and had used Mr Staley's daughter as a 'vehicle of communication' and 'intermediary'.
In one email in September 2016, Epstein emailed Ms Staley asking her to 'tell dad' it's the 15th anniversary of 9/11 and the 'second anniversary of his leaving' but did not explain further.
Jes Staley (pictured) used his daughter as a 'vehicle of communication' to maintain contact with Jeffrey Epstein after taking the top job at Barclays, a court has heard
The 68-year-old claims he had a 'professional' relationship with the disgraced financier (pictured), and he cut all ties with him before he became the bank's chief executive in December 2015
From left to right: Jes Staley, Larry Summers, Jeffrey Epstein, Bill Gates and Boris Nikolic
Ms Staley replied: 'He says he hopes you are well and that after a year with b he wants to visit. Do you ever come to SF?'
Ms Mulcahy said 'b' stood for Barclays and that the email suggested the men were 'lying low' and planned to 'resume ties' once press attention over their relationship had died down.
The married father-of-two, who this week admitted to having sex with one of Epstein's staff at a property linked to the financier, denied this, insisting: 'But I didn't meet him.'
In another November 2016 email, soon after Donald Trump was elected, Epstein wrote to Ms Staley saying: 'Could you ask your dad if he would like to be considered for Treasury.'
Ms Staley, now 35, replied: 'Will do. He's on a plane to London right now but I'll reach him after.' She added later that day: 'Spoke with him. He said not yet, but thanks.'
In February 2017, Epstein emailed her requesting she ask her father his opinion of Veronique Weill as she wanted to join Rothschild.
To which she replied: 'Will do. I will speak with him today and get back to you' before emailing the following day: 'He thinks she is great and is a big fan of hers. Good recommendation for Rothschild.'
In another email that same month, the barrister said Epstein appeared to still be connecting the former banker with powerful people.
But the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) told London's Upper Tribunal today that the former boss had 'ongoing, indirect contact' with the convicted sex offender up until 2017
It also claimed a bombshell cache of emails showed that he told the serial paedophile via his eldest daughter Alexa that he intended to visit him after serving a year at Barclays
He wrote to Ms Staley to say that a sultan 'would like to see dad can you ask if this weekend works'.
Ms Staley replied: 'Just called him. They've been connected and have a meeting. Thanks!' Epstein later sent her a UAE phone number in an email titled 'His number'.
Mr Staley insisted he had no recollection of having any conversations regarding these emails.
He said the fact that Epstein was trying to reach him via his daughter demonstrates that he had cut contact.
The court previously heard that Mr Staley had referred to him as 'Uncle Jeffrey' in an email to Alexa months after his 2008 conviction for soliciting sex with a minor.
It was also told emails showed Epstein told Prince Andrew that Mr Staley was 'like family and can be trusted 100 per cent' while the banker told the paedophile he would be his 'friend forever'.
The barrister said yesterday Mr Staley continued to email Epstein throughout the summer of 2015 about his Barclays appointment and spoke of their 'unwavering friendship' that October.
Ms Mulcahy said the email exchanges showed that the 2019 letter claiming the former banker's 'last contact' with the late paedophile 'was well before joining Barclays' was incorrect.
Mr Staley insisted that the wording of the letter was drafted on the advice of Barclays lawyers and while there had been emails and calls, the men had not 'physically' met since April 2015.
The hearing continues.
