Epstein-linked banker Jes Staley sparks outrage among church members in New York

In previously leaked emails between Staley and Epstein, Staley described their friendship as “profound” and referred to Epstein as “family.”

In a 2010 email chain, Staley told Epstein: “That was fun. Say hello to Snow White.”

When Epstein asked “which character would you like next,” Staley replied, “Beauty and the Beast.”

Their friendship was so close too. Staley is said to have made several trips to Epstein’s infamous Caribbean island and was a frequent guest at his New York mansion.

In June 2025, the British Financial Conduct Authority banned Staley for life from holding leadership positions after finding that he had lied about the degree of close relationship he had with Epstein, whose death in August 2019 in a New York City jail cell was ruled a suicide.

Staley had resigned from his position at Barclays earlier in 2021 over concerns about the way he characterized his relationship with Epstein to the bank and regulators.

According to blogger Griffith, All Souls church leaders declined to reveal whether Staley had made a significant donation to allow him to sit in the exclusive pews.

There were other allegations about how church bosses “seemed to select specific members to greet Staley and make him feel comfortable,” she said.

Moreover, the banker’s behavior during the services also upset the members.

“He is often on his phone during the shift and shows few visible signs of introspection,” Griffith wrote.

“He goes alone, without his wife, and behaves with the ease of someone accustomed to elite spaces that continue to accommodate him.”

The journalist added: “For some congregants, the timing of Staley’s turn, or return, to organized religion is striking. They noted that in other high-profile cases involving Epstein, religious belief was encouraged as a way to signal seriousness and rehabilitation.

“In this case, they found, the moral burden had shifted from Staley to the people sitting around him.”