Epstein told Prince Andrew that ex-Barclays boss was ‘like family'

Yahoo

12-03-2025

Jeffrey Epstein described the former boss of Barclays as 'like family' in an email to the Duke of York, a court has heard.
The disgraced financier sought to reassure Prince Andrew of Jes Staley's credibility ahead of a meeting in 2010, as he claimed the banker could be 'trusted 100pc'.
The High Court was told on Wednesday that Epstein wrote to the Duke, saying: 'I know you are seeing Jes Staley this morning, he is like family and can be trusted 100pc.'
It comes as the ex-Barclays chief attempts to overturn a lifetime ban from the City, which was handed down by the Financial Conduct Authority in 2023 owing to his ties to Epstein.
The latest hearing also revealed Mr Staley referred to the convicted paedophile as 'uncle Jeffrey' in email correspondence with his daughter.
Mr Epstein was convicted in 2008 for procuring a minor for prostitution in Florida and sentenced to 18 months in prison.
As part of the latest evidence, the court heard Mr Staley had forwarded an email to his daughter Alexa from Epstein in April 2009.
In it, he appeared to detail how he could introduce her to influential figures in the science world as part of her career ambitions.
Mr Staley forwarded the message and made the 'uncle' reference to Epstein as part of the exchange, the court heard. The email read: 'This is from uncle Jeffrey.'
Mr Staley, 68, has launched a claim at the Upper Tribunal attempting to reverse a decision by the Financial Conduct Authority to ban him from financial services.
The case centres on a letter Barclays sent to the regulator in 2019 claiming that Mr Staley was not close to Epstein and cut ties with him after he was appointed to Barclays in October 2015. The FCA said Mr Staley 'recklessly misled' the agency.
In a testy exchange with the FCA's barrister, Leigh-Ann Mulcahy KC, Mr Staley accused the regulator of an 'invasion' of his privacy.
After being shown emails in court – which appeared to show how he shared Alexa Staley's academic scores with Epstein – Mr Staley said: 'I think there's an invasion of my family here and I resent it.
'This exposure of my daughter is really important to you.'
The court has previously heard how he maintained contact with Epstein after his 2008 conviction.
Mr Staley has claimed his warm words to Epstein were part of a close business relationship but he was never personal friends with him.
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