Barclays Chair Faces Scrutiny Over Handling of Former CEO's Epstein Ties

Nigel Higgins testified he did not seek detailed confirmation of Jes Staley's relationship with Jeffrey Epstein before reassuring regulators in 2019.

Nigel Higgins, Barclays' chairman, testified that he did not ask Jes Staley about the exact nature or timeline of his interactions with Jeffrey Epstein before responding to the FCA's 2019 inquiry.
Court documents reveal that Higgins believed the matter did not require a board review and relied on Staley's assurances of a diminished relationship with Epstein.
The FCA alleges that Staley misled the regulator by downplaying his ties with Epstein, citing over 1,000 emails, some describing their friendship as 'profound.'
Staley, who resigned in 2021, is challenging the FCA's decision to ban him from senior roles in the British finance industry.
Higgins acknowledged in testimony that with the current understanding of Staley's contact with Epstein, more in-depth questioning would have been warranted in 2019.