Jeffrey Epstein acted as an advisor to JPMorgan Executive
The news
James E. Staley, the former JPMorgan Chase executive closest to disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein at the bank, relied on him for years as an almost personal adviser of sorts, a document shows.
The two men discussed a wide variety of topics in emails, including a possible meeting between Chinese officials and executives of the country’s largest bank, business deals Mr Staley was working on, a possible promotion for Mr Staley and the fallout of the 2008 financial crisis, according to a document the bank produced shortly after Mr. Epstein’s 2019 arrest on federal sex trafficking charges.
The document, reviewed by The New York Times and included as a sealed exhibit in a court file, also revealed the personal nature of Mr. Staley’s relationship with Mr. Epstein. On a number of occasions, Mr. Staley told Mr. Epstein that he missed him, talked about mutual friends and about helping his daughter get into graduate school.
In an email, Mr. Staley to Mr. Epstein on his plans for New Year’s Eve 2011: “I’m here in Brazil with three beautiful women. Happy new year.”
In another email exchange, according to the document, Mr. Staley in 2010 to Mr. Epstein: “Maybe they are following you? That was fun. Give my regards to Snow White.” Mr. Epstein replied, “Which character would you like next.” In 2009, Mr Epstein sent Mr Staley an email with a photo attachment “of a young woman wearing a revealing outfit in a modeling pose,” the document said.
Mr. Staley, better known as Jes, is a central figure in two civil lawsuits filed last year against JPMorgan over the bank’s nearly 15-year business relationship with Mr. Epstein. The lawsuits allege that JPMorgan looked the other way to allegations that Mr Epstein trafficked teenage girls and young men, continuing even as he had to register as a sex offender after pleading guilty in 2008 to a charge of soliciting prostitution from a teenage girl. .
Mr. Staley has repeatedly denied in court documents any wrongdoing or awareness that Mr. Epstein had sexually assaulted young women and teenage girls while the bank had him as a client. Mr Staley’s lawyers did not respond to requests for comment. JPMorgan, who also said it had no knowledge of Mr Epstein’s activities, sued Mr Staley this year to ensure that if he was found guilty of improper activity, he could be held liable for the damage that the bank could pay. .
The 22-page document also summarizes other emails about communications between Mr. Epstein and other JPMorgan employees.
In some emails, Mr Epstein mentioned all the rich and famous people he met or talked to, including Prince Andrew. He talked about connections with British politicians and Middle Eastern leaders. He also discussed an art transaction he said he helped complete Leon Black, the billionaire Wall Street investor. Mr. Black was another close associate of Mr. Epstein for many years and paid him $158 million for tax and financial advice.