Ex-bank boss to face court on Epstein link

THE former chief executive of Barclays will face questioning under oath next week about his relationship with Jeffrey Epstein and what he knew about his former client’s sex-trafficking activities.

Jes Staley will give evidence as part of a US lawsuit that alleges JP Morgan, his former employer, facilitated sex trafficking by the late paedophile financier.

JP Morgan is suing Mr Staley, the former head of its private bank, over his relationship with Mr Epstein and demanding he hand back more than $80m (£67m).

The Wall Street lender is seeking to hold Mr Staley, who later became chief executive of Barclays, liable for any penalties the bank may face amid claims it enabled Epstein’s sex trafficking crimes. It comes after the US Virgin Islands, which is bringing a lawsuit against JP Morgan, alleged the bank is liable for facilitating sex trafficking by ignoring red flags and providing banking services to Epstein.

The bank is also facing another suit from Epstein’s victims. Mr Staley is not a defendant in either claim.

Last month, the bank admitted that Mr Staley had held inappropriate conversations with Epstein using his work email. Emails allege that Mr Staley drank white wine in a hot tub on Epstein’s private Caribbean island while the paedophile financier was under house arrest.

The emails also claimed the two men discussed “Disney princesses” whom Epstein was trying to pursue.

Mr Staley has repeatedly denied knowledge of Epstein’s illicit activities.