Former JPMorgan Chase executive Jes Staley told U.S. lawmakers that he repeatedly shared confidential bank information with Jeffrey Epstein, according to transcripts released Wednesday by the House Oversight Committee. Staley, who later served as CEO of Barclays, testified that he provided Epstein with market-sensitive data and details regarding his own compensation.
The admissions were made during a closed-door, voluntary interview on July 24, 2026, as part of a congressional investigation into Epstein’s ties to business and political figures. Epstein was a client of JPMorgan’s private bank and asset-management business, which Staley oversaw during his three-decade tenure at the firm.
According to the transcript, Staley shared internal communications between JPMorgan and the Federal Reserve during the 2008 financial crisis. He also disclosed that the bank had seen $44 billion in private bank inflows over a two-week period and informed Epstein that the bank had designated him a "high-risk client" due to concerns over large cash withdrawals. Staley testified that he believed he had the authority to share such information at his discretion.
The scale of the information shared involved internal Federal Reserve communications and data on tens of billions of dollars in bank liquidity. Current and former federal workers at regulatory agencies may see increased scrutiny regarding how their communications with bank executives are handled and potentially shared with third parties. Furthermore, small-business owners and retail banking customers may notice changes in how banks monitor and report high-risk transactions, as lawmakers use this testimony to probe why Epstein remained a client despite being flagged for suspicious cash activity.
The testimony also establishes a precedent for how congressional committees investigate the intersection of private finance and criminal activity. The House Oversight Committee has already interviewed other high-profile figures, including Bill Gates and former President Bill Clinton, signaling a broad inquiry into the professional networks of business elites. While JPMorgan declined to comment on the transcript, the ongoing investigation could lead to future policy recommendations regarding bank transparency. What happens next depends on the committee's final report; no specific dates for further hearings or legislative votes were provided in the transcript release.
Staley also confirmed that he signed documents to serve as a trustee for Epstein’s estate in 2014 and 2015. He told lawmakers he eventually declined the role because he did not want to be associated with the estate and received no compensation for his involvement. Epstein died in jail in 2019 while awaiting trial on federal sex-trafficking charges.