Unredacted court filings have shed more light on the relationship between Jeffrey Epstein and former Barclays executive Jes Staley.
According to the Guardian, the newly unsealed documents allege Staley exchanged more than 1,200 emails with the convicted pedophile between 2008 and 2012. Some of those conversations included cryptic references to Disney characters, such as Snow White and Beauty and the Beast. The correspondence was outlined in a lawsuit filed by the United States Virgin Islands against Staley’s former employer JPMorgan Chase.
According to the complaint, the men would communicate about “women who they referred to by the names of Disney princesses that Epstein [allegedly] procured for Staley.” The suit also alleges Epstein had “emailed Staley photos of young women in seductive poses.”
“In July 2010, Staley sent an email to Epstein, saying: ‘Maybe they’re tracking u? That was fun. Say hi to Snow White.’” the suit read. “Epstein responded: ‘[W]hat character would you like next?’ When Staley said ‘Beauty and the Beast,’ Epstein replied: ‘well one side is available.’”
About seven months earlier, Staley allegedly messaged Epstein to tell him he was “deeply” appreciative of their friendship, which he described as “profound.” In December 2009, he reportedly told Epstein it was great to give him “a long, heartfelt hug.” The late financier allegedly responded to the message by sending two pictures of young women.
Staley is also accused of visiting Epstein’s private island in the USVI, where most of his sex crimes allegedly took place. The USVI government sued JPMorgan Chase in late 2022, claiming it had “direct and actual knowledge” of Epstein’s crime and allowed him to use the bank to facilitate sex-trafficking activities.
Staley has denied the allegations.
“We wish to make it expressly clear that our client had no involvement in any of the alleged crimes committed by Mr. Epstein, and code words were never used by Mr. Staley in any communications with Mr. Epstein, ever,” his lawyer Kathleen Harris previously said.
