Former JPMorgan exec Jes Staley says he talked with Jamie Dimon about Jeffrey Epstein: report

By Steve Gelsi

Former JPMorgan Chase & Co. executive Jes Staley alleged in court papers that he communicated about convicted pedophile Jeffrey Epstein with CEO Jamie Dimon, the Wall Street Journal reported on Wednesday.

Citing documents that have not been made public in a lawsuit against Staley brought by JPMorgan, the newspaper reported that Staley said he had conversations with Dimon about Epstein for years.

A JPMorgan Chase spokesperson confirmed to MarketWatch that there is no evidence that any such communication, as reported by the Wall Street Journal, took place.

"We believe this is false," the spokesperson said. "There is no evidence that any such communications ever occurred -- nothing in the voluminous number documents reviewed and nothing in the nearly dozen depositions taken, including that of our own CEO. The one person who claims this to be true is currently accused of horrific acts and dishonesty -- and hasn't been deposed."

Staley alleged that Dimon communicated with him about Epstein after Epstein was arrested in 2006, as well as when Epstein pleaded guilty in 2008 to criminal charges in Florida. Staley also alleged that Dimon communicated with him through 2012 about whether to continue the bank's financial ties to Epstein.

Dimon gave a deposition in the lawsuit on Friday and said he has no memory of ever discussing or reviewing Epstein's accounts with Staley, the spokesperson said.

"There are millions and millions of emails and other documents that have been produced in this case and not one comes close to even suggesting that [Dimon] had any role in decisions about Epstein's accounts," the spokesperson said in an email to MarketWatch.

The bank now knows that Epstein's behavior was "monstrous" and that his victims deserve justice, the spokesperson said.

"In hindsight, any association with him was a mistake and we regret it, but these suits are misdirected as we did not help him commit his heinous crimes," the spokesperson said.

JPMorgan Chase's stock is down 0.2% in premarket trades on Wednesday.

Staley, the former head of JPMorgan's private bank, is being sued by JPMorgan Chase for his alleged role in Epstein's financial dealings.

See: Judge greenlights JPMorgan lawsuit blaming former exec in Epstein scandal

In a separate lawsuit, the government of the U.S. Virgin Islands is suing JPMorgan Chase over its alleged ties with Epstein. In that legal action, JPMorgan said last week that government officials in the U.S. Virgin Islands enabled Epstein.

See: JPMorgan alleges ex-U.S. Virgin Islands first lady helped Jeffrey Epstein spread money and influence

In 2019, Epstein was found dead in his prison cell at the Metropolitan Correctional Center of an apparent suicide by hanging while awaiting trial for sex trafficking and other charges.

Epstein pleaded guilty to soliciting and procuring a minor for prostitution in 2008, spent time in a Florida jail, and was a registered sex offender.

-Steve Gelsi

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05-31-23 1047ET

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