Jes Staley** — who would later become CEO of Barclays — exchanged dozens of emails with Jeffrey Epstein from at least 2009 through 2014, while serving in senior roles at two of the world's most powerful financial institutions, according to 4,743 documents now in the public record.
The documents, released as part of the Jeffrey Epstein Task Force Archive, show Staley maintaining a steady personal relationship with Epstein well after Epstein's 2008 federal conviction for soliciting prostitution from a minor. The emails track Staley across institutions: first as a senior executive at JPMorgan Chase, then as a partner at BlueMountain Capital Management.
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Emails on JPMorgan Servers
In June 2009 — less than a year after Epstein completed his work-release sentence — Epstein emailed Staley about photographs of a 90-foot sailing yacht. Document vol00009-efta00750096-pdf shows Epstein replying to photos Staley forwarded under the subject line "Jes Staley 90' yawl," writing simply: "exciting."
Two months later, in August 2009, Staley wrote to Epstein describing a multi-week sailing vacation. "We've done Nantucket, the Vineyard, and Newport," he wrote. "My brother... said I've never looked so relaxed."
Document vol00009-efta00098375-pdf carries the notation "Confidential Treatment Requested by JPMorgan Chase JPM-SDNY-00000381" — indicating the email was later produced in federal court proceedings in New York.
In October 2010, Epstein raised a question that touched on the banking relationship directly. Document vol00009-efta00755598-pdf shows Epstein asking Staley: "would it make sense to have peter have a relationship with JE." Staley responded with a meeting proposal. The exchange suggests Epstein was actively seeking to deepen ties with JPMorgan's private banking arm while Staley ran it.
The Relationship Follows Staley to BlueMountain
Staley departed JPMorgan in late 2012. He joined BlueMountain Capital Management as a partner in January 2013. The emails did not stop.
Document vol00010-efta01908079-pdf shows Staley writing to Epstein on January 19, 2013 — from his new jstaley@bluemountaincapital.com address — asking "Where are you?" Epstein replied: "palm beach."
By July 2013, Staley was still reaching out directly. Document vol00010-efta01965252-pdf records Staley writing: "I tried your cell. Where are u?" The email carries BlueMountain's legal disclaimer, confirming the channel was a professional account.
Epstein Advising on Philanthropy
The documents reveal Epstein advising Staley on institutional donations. In November 2013, Staley forwarded a Columbia University gala invitation. Document vol00010-efta01950148-pdf shows Epstein responding: "you might want to make a real donation as her advisor has done well for her."
When Staley asked "What's real? Seriously," Epstein replied: "100k per year for 5 years."
The proposed sum — $500,000 over five years — was framed by Epstein as appropriate given returns he said Columbia had generated for a mutual contact. The exchange shows Epstein acting as a philanthropic advisor to a sitting fund partner at BlueMountain.
Regular Meetings Through 2014
The documents show the relationship extended beyond email. In December 2013, Lesley Groff — Epstein's longtime executive assistant — emailed to ask whether to confirm Staley at 5:30 for a meeting at Epstein's office. Document vol00010-efta01946324-pdf includes Staley's message to Epstein that morning: "We had three events last night. You free around 5:30 today?"
Meetings continued into 2014. Document vol00010-efta01920537-pdf shows Staley writing to Epstein in June of that year: "R u around?" Epstein replied with a time and location — "730 my house" — confirming an in-person visit arranged through a BlueMountain email account, five years after Epstein's federal conviction.
What Followed
Staley joined Barclays as Group CEO in December 2015. His relationship with Epstein became the subject of regulatory scrutiny after Epstein's 2019 arrest and subsequent death in custody.
The UK's Financial Conduct Authority launched a formal investigation into the nature and extent of Staley's relationship with Epstein and what he knew. In October 2021, Staley resigned from Barclays citing the FCA's preliminary findings.
The 4,743 documents now in the public archive span more than five years of contact. They show a relationship that began when Staley was among the most powerful bankers on Wall Street and continued as he moved through two major financial firms — JPMorgan and BlueMountain — before he reached the CEO chair at Barclays.
All individuals mentioned are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.
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This analysis references publicly released documents from the Epstein case archive. All individuals mentioned are presumed innocent unless convicted in a court of law. Language such as “documents indicate” reflects what appears in source materials, not conclusions of guilt. Readers are encouraged to review the cited source documents directly.