Barclays CEO steps down amid Jeffrey Epstein probe

By Ovunc Kutlu

ANKARA (AA) - British multinational bank Barclays said Monday its group chief executive Jes Staley will step down amid an investigation involving his relationship with late convicted American financier Jeffrey Epstein.

Barclays said in a statement it was made aware on Friday evening of the preliminary conclusions of the British regulatory body Financial Conduct Authority and the Bank of England's Prudential Regulation Authority.

"In view of those conclusions, and Mr. Staley's intention to contest them, the Board and Mr. Staley have agreed that he will step down from his role as Group Chief Executive and as a director of Barclays," the statement said.

"It should be noted that the investigation makes no findings that Mr. Staley saw, or was aware of, any of Mr. Epstein's alleged crimes, which was the central question underpinning Barclays' support for Mr. Staley following the arrest of Mr. Epstein in the summer of 2019," it added.

After pleading guilty and being convicted by a Florida state court in 2008, Epstein was arrested on July 2019 facing federal charges for the sex trafficking of minors in Florida and New York. His death in his jail cell a month later was ruled a suicide by the medical examiner.

Barclays' stock price was down almost 1.2% at 1437GMT on the London stock exchange.

Staley ran the Barclays Group since December 2015.