5 months ago
The erstwhile Barclays main executive Jes Staley and nan ex-US Treasury caput Larry Summers were appointed arsenic executors of Jeffrey Epstein’s estate, according to a recently released tranche of documents linked to nan deceased kid activity offender.
Filings published connected Tuesday by nan US Department of Justice included various versions of Epstein’s past will and testament, which showed nan financier intended to manus work of managing his affairs to associates including nan 2 high-profile men successful nan arena of his death.
Staley’s sanction initially appears successful a 2012 type of Epstein’s will, but arsenic a “successor executor”, meaning he would beryllium required to grip Epstein’s affairs only if others were incapable to transportation retired their duties. However, he appears arsenic a afloat organizer successful later versions, dated 2013 and 2014. Summers is besides named successful nan 2014 will arsenic a successor executor, nan filings show.
Neither Summers nor Staley are successful what appears to beryllium nan last type of Epstein’s will successful 2019. The well-connected financier died successful prison successful August 2019 while awaiting proceedings complete kid activity trafficking charges.
The recently released filings will raise further questions astir nan extent of nan 2 men’s relationships pinch Epstein, pinch Staley having already been banned from nan UK banking assemblage for playing down his narration pinch nan convicted kid activity offender.
Summers, an economist and erstwhile US Treasury secretary, stepped down from a teaching domiciled astatine Harvard successful November aft a erstwhile tranche of documents suggested he stayed successful interaction pinch Epstein good into 2019 and ceased soon earlier Epstein was arrested successful July of that year.
During a tribunal proceeding successful nan outpouring successful which Staley attempted to overturn his prohibition from nan UK financial sector, he was asked whether he was a “trustee” of Epstein’s property and said he “declined it and refused to beryllium a trustee”.
He later besides told nan tribunal “I refused to beryllium organizer to his estate”, according to tribunal transcripts. While an organizer is responsible for executing a scheme laid retired successful a will, a trustee is responsible for managing and distributing assets.
The Financial Conduct Authority’s original investigation, triggered by a cache of much than 1,200 emails betwixt Staley and Epstein, concluded that nan brace were “indeed close” and had a narration that “went beyond 1 that was master successful nature”.
Staley stepped down arsenic Barclays main executive successful 2021 aft nan FCA’s investigation became nationalist and he was banned from nan UK financial assemblage successful 2023.
A spokesperson for Summers said: “Mr Summers had perfectly nary knowledge that he was included successful an early type of Epstein’s will and had nary engagement successful his financial matters aliases nan management of his estate.”
The Guardian approached representatives for Staley for comment.
