Andrew's billionaire paedophile former friend who spent a year behind bars after paying teenage girls for sex secretly backed new Barclays boss for job

  • Jeffrey Epstein acted behind scenes to secure Barclays job for Jes Staley 
  • Barclays have yet to confirm appointment but its an open secret in the City
  • Court papers reveal Mr Staley's phone numbers in Epstein's contact book
  • Epstein is a convicted sex offender and was once close to Prince Andrew  

The new head of top British bank Barclays was secretly backed for the job by the notorious billionaire paedophile former friend of Prince Andrew, it can be revealed.

Convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein – who served more than a year behind bars after paying teenage girls for sex – acted behind the scenes to try to secure the job for hedge fund executive Jes Staley after the exit of Bob Diamond.

Mr Staley failed to get the £5million-a-year post in 2012, but is understood to have won it this time round. Barclays has yet to confirm his appointment officially, but it is an open secret in the City.

Hedge fund executive Jes Staley, and his wife Deborah, left. Mr Staley is understood to be the new head of Barclays Bank. He was tipped for the job by Prince Andrew's paedophile friend Jeffrey Epstein, right
Hedge fund executive Jes Staley, and his wife Deborah, left. Mr Staley is understood to be the new head of Barclays Bank. He was tipped for the job by Prince Andrew's paedophile friend Jeffrey Epstein, right

Hedge fund executive Jes Staley, and his wife Deborah, left. Mr Staley is understood to be the new head of Barclays Bank. He was tipped for the job by Prince Andrew's former friend Jeffrey Epstein, right

Court papers reveal Mr Staley’s name with multiple phone numbers in Epstein’s personal contacts book, which became public as part of legal proceedings in America.

Financier Epstein was pictured after his release from jail with the Duke of York, who was a close friend, triggering a row that led to Andrew quitting as the Government’s global trade envoy.

Mr Staley denies ever asking Epstein to be his cheerleader, while Barclays said its board had not been lobbied by Epstein. Emails seen by The Mail on Sunday reveal that Epstein – who was convicted of sex offences in the US in 2008 – began arguing for Mr Staley in financial circles in the summer of 2012, after Mr Diamond was pushed out amid the Libor-rigging scandal.

Court papers reveal Mr Staley¿s name with multiple phone numbers in Epstein¿s personal contacts book, which became public as part of legal proceedings in America

Court papers reveal Mr Staley’s name with multiple phone numbers in Epstein’s personal contacts book, which became public as part of legal proceedings in America

The MoS understands Mr Staley and Epstein met in the disgraced financier’s palatial New York home in 2012. An insider said that the way Epstein works is that he is not necessarily hired, but acts on his own initiative.

Epstein was furious when Mr Staley was overlooked for the top job in favour of British high street banker Antony Jenkins, then head of Barclays’ retail division. Epstein privately described him as an ‘internal dweeb’.

Epstein – who made a fortune with his investment business for the super-rich, J Epstein & Co – also sensationally claimed in the emails that George Osborne was blocking Mr Staley’s move from JP Morgan – where he then worked as head of its investment bank – to Barclays, and wanted to get the Chancellor to change his mind.

It is thought the Treasury and Bank of England were uncomfortable with another American from the ‘casino’ side of banking taking over a venerable British financial institution, after Mr Diamond.

At the time, Epstein told one financial industry source the Barclays board had come close to approving the appointment and warned that if they didn’t appoint Mr Staley, the bank would suffer.

Epstein felt Mr Staley had been ‘sandbagged’ after being approved by the Barclays board, and claimed Britain would be ‘giving up its role in world affairs’ by giving the role to Mr Jenkins. Now Mr Staley is in the frame once again following Mr Jenkins’ sacking by Barclays after three years in charge.

Mr Epstein's palatial home in New York. The MoS understands Mr Staley and Epstein met in the home in 2012. An insider said that the way Epstein works is that he is not necessarily hired, but acts on his own initiative

Mr Epstein's palatial home in New York. The MoS understands Mr Staley and Epstein met in the home in 2012. An insider said that the way Epstein works is that he is not necessarily hired, but acts on his own initiative

The bank’s former chairman, Sir David Walker – seen as the main obstacle in Mr Staley getting the job last time – has also departed.

Of Mr Staley’s bid for the Barclays job in 2012, the source said Epstein’s unofficial stance was to see himself as a strategist – ‘collating all of the intelligence as to the Barclays board, the Bank of England and Financial Conduct Authority watchdog, and political mood’.

Epstein could not be reached for comment. In a statement, Barclays said: ‘Barclays categorically denies it has received any approach from Mr Epstein regarding any candidate for the vacant CEO role.’ A spokesman for Mr Staley said: ‘At no time has Mr Staley asked Mr Epstein to make representations on his behalf regarding any role.’

Epstein pleaded guilty to procuring a person under 18 for prostitution in June 2008 and served 13 months of an 18-month sentence.

In 2011, after his release, he was photographed walking with Prince Andrew through New York’s Central Park.

 

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