Former Barclays CEO Jes Staley told a House panel Thursday that he was “unsure” if he met a woman dressed as Snow White through convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, according to a person familiar with his closed-door interview. Staley maintained that he ceased contact with Epstein after becoming CEO of Barclays in 2015. However, during the interview, he also acknowledged a sexual relationship with one of Epstein's assistants.
Emails disclosed by the Department of Justice earlier this year appear to contradict Staley's assertion of limited contact. These messages, exchanged between 2008 and 2012, show Staley and Epstein discussing the Snow White character and related encounters. In one email dated July 9, 2010, Staley wrote to Epstein, “Maybe they’re tracking u?? That was fun. Say hi to Snow White.” Epstein responded the following day by asking, “[w]hat character would you like next?” to which Staley replied, “Beauty and the Beast.”
Another unidentified individual emailed Epstein on July 10, 2010, stating, “the snow white was f..ed twice as soon as she put her costume.” Epstein had previously emailed an unidentified woman on June 20, 2010, stating, “I would love to take photos of you in a Snow White costume. You can get it from the costume store.” The woman responded, “Will get it!”
A source familiar with Staley's interview told reporters that he provided additional details about a consensual sexual encounter with an Epstein assistant at Epstein's New York City apartment. Staley, who resigned from Barclays in November 2021 amid a UK investigation into his financial ties to Epstein, had previously denied knowledge of discussions about women in Disney princess costumes during earlier court proceedings.
The emails were initially cited in a lawsuit filed by the U.S. Virgin Islands against J.P. Morgan for allegedly facilitating Epstein's sex trafficking. J.P. Morgan settled that case for $75 million and reached a confidential settlement with Staley. In 2023, J.P. Morgan paid $290 million to settle a lawsuit brought by Epstein's victims. According to the source familiar with the interview, Staley was later asked by J.P. Morgan to close all his accounts with the bank due to his association with Epstein.
House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer (R-Ky.) stated prior to Staley's interview that J.P. Morgan had internal discussions about Epstein being a high-risk client, but Staley reportedly defended him. Comer characterized Staley and Epstein as having been very close friends.
Despite previously denying a close relationship with Epstein in court, Staley acknowledged to the Oversight panel that he visited Epstein during his 13-month prison sentence in Florida starting in 2008. Staley also reportedly observed Epstein frequently withdrawing large sums of cash from his J.P. Morgan account.
The House Oversight Committee has conducted 19 interviews as part of its investigation into the Justice Department's prosecution of Epstein and the release of files related to the probe into Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell. Ex-Apollo Global Management CEO Leon Black was among those interviewed previously and is expected to provide non-disclosure agreements signed with women connected to Epstein.