# Staley pushed JP Morgan to keep Epstein as client despite human trafficking concerns, court hears

Former Barclays boss Jes Staley pushed JP Morgan to keep  as a client despite human trafficking concerns and told him suspicious withdrawals from his account were being investigated, a court has heard.

The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) put the allegations to the ex-chief executive of  during his second day of witness testimony at the upper tribunal in London.

The former bank boss Jes Staley pushed JP Morgan to keep  as a client despite human trafficking concerns and told him suspicious withdrawals from his account were being investigated, a court has heard.

The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) put the allegations to the ex-chief executive of  during his second day of witness testimony at the upper tribunal in London.

Staley, who resigned from Barclays in 2021, is trying to overturn the regulator’s decision to ban him from taking any senior roles in the UK financial sector after claiming he lied about the depth of his relationship with Epstein. Barclays declared to the regulator in a letter in 2019 that the two men “did not have a close relationship”.

Staley, who walked into court on Tuesday carrying the book The Prosecutor by Jack Fairweather – subtitled “One man’s battle to bring Nazis to justice” – was also asked about time he spent with Epstein over the years.

The court was shown a set of emails from November 2010, in which Epstein messaged Staley: “Petie and others in Paris this weekend”, to which Staley replied: “12pm at ur place. Is set.” Staley told the court he believed this to be a reference to former Labour business secretary Peter Mandelson – now  – whose .

Staley was part of a draft list of high-profile invitees to Epstein’s birthday celebrations in 2010. That list, put together by Epstein’s assistant, also included: the American magician David Blaine; Columbia University professor and Nobel laureate Richard Axel and his wife; as well as Rolling Stones star Mick Jagger – but only “if he is in town”.

It is not clear if that list was fulfilled. Staley said he struggled to recall details about which of Epstein’s birthday events he attended.

He also told the court that most of his contact with the financier “was related to business”, but that “there was a friend side to it as well”, adding: “He became a friend.”

Staley will continue giving evidence until the end of the hearing, which is due to continue until Friday.
```