Barclays is under renewed scrutiny over its vetting of former chief executive Jes Staley, following a letter from U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren and two congressional colleagues demanding clarity on the bank’s assessment of Staley’s longstanding relationship with the late Jeffrey Epstein. The letter was addressed to Nigel Higgins, chairman of Barclays, and questions the bank’s oversight and decision-making prior to Staley’s appointment as CEO.

Warren, along with Representatives Ro Khanna and Raja Krishnamoorthi, requested detailed information about the due diligence process Barclays undertook before hiring Staley, citing concerns that the bank failed to uncover the extensive personal and professional ties between Staley and Epstein, a financier convicted of sex offenses who died by suicide in custody in 2019. The lawmakers emphasized that the relationship between Staley and Epstein reportedly spanned nearly two decades, including the period when Staley led Barclays.

The letter also criticized the bank’s handling of the matter after the details of this connection emerged, noting that Staley was allowed to resign in November 2021 and subsequently received millions in compensation and benefits through the end of 2022. Warren highlighted what she termed an “apparent failure” by Barclays to properly investigate Staley’s Epstein ties, describing it as a significant governance lapse that raises doubts about the bank’s ability to hold senior executives accountable for misconduct.

Staley, who left JPMorgan Chase to join Barclays in 2015, appeared before a House committee on Wednesday for a closed-door interview focused on his dealings with Epstein. The session marks one of the latest developments in ongoing inquiries into the nature and implications of his association with the disgraced financier.

In response, a Barclays spokesperson stated that a UK regulatory body had determined the bank was misled by Staley regarding his relationship with Epstein. The spokesman added that Barclays had conducted an internal investigation based on the information available at that time.

The senators have stipulated a two-week deadline for Barclays to provide a formal response to their inquiries. The renewed attention to Staley’s appointment and tenure at Barclays underscores broader concerns about corporate governance and the robustness of executive vetting processes in global financial institutions.