Lesley Groff, the longtime executive assistant to Jeffrey Epstein, is scheduled to testify on Tuesday before the House Oversight and Reform Committee as lawmakers continue their investigation into the late convicted sex offender. Groff worked for Epstein for nearly two decades, beginning in 2001 and concluding in July 2019 when Epstein was arrested on federal charges.
Background of Groff's Employment
According to notes from a 2021 FBI interview with Groff, which were included in millions of documents related to Epstein released by the Department of Justice earlier this year, Groff told agents that she began working for Epstein after being contacted by a headhunter. The headhunter found her resume and informed her that there was a job available to 'organize one man's life.' That man turned out to be Epstein, and Groff stated that she had not previously heard of him. She interviewed with several individuals for the position, including Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell, Epstein's longtime associate who is currently serving a 20-year prison sentence for sex trafficking crimes. Groff also signed a non-disclosure agreement as part of her employment.
Responsibilities and Daily Duties
The FBI document outlines that Groff's responsibilities included scheduling meetings, making phone calls, coordinating with Epstein's driver and chef, and managing much of his daily schedule and appointments. Notably, from the very beginning, massage appointments were a routine part of Epstein's day. Groff told investigators that 'massage was a part of Epstein's day; they were normal appointments.' She described making massage appointments as just another task, stating that Epstein would call her in the morning and say something like, 'Call and see if she can do a massage at 4.'
Legal Scrutiny and Immunity
In recent years, Groff has faced public scrutiny after it emerged that she was among four women identified as possible 'co-conspirators' and granted immunity from prosecution under Epstein's controversial 2007 plea deal with federal prosecutors in Florida. Groff has consistently maintained through her lawyers that she had no knowledge of Epstein's crimes and never engaged in any misconduct. No criminal charges have ever been brought against her.
When asked last month about Groff's knowledge of details surrounding Epstein's 2008 conviction, her attorney Michael Bachner told the Guardian that 'after Epstein's arrest in 2008, he continuously lied to Lesley and other members of the staff, insisting that he had been blackmailed and set up.' Bachner added that Epstein 'angrily said that the allegations against him were simply false, and he had no idea that the 'prostitute' he had contact with was a minor,' and that 'in Lesley's mind, that was the reason that he was treated so leniently by law-enforcement before and after he was sentenced.'
FBI Documents and Civil Lawsuits
The Epstein files released by the Justice Department also include an internal FBI document from 2019 that lists eight people as possible co-conspirators, including Groff. In a statement to NBC News earlier this year, Groff's lawyer said that she had never seen the document and 'was unaware of it.' The lawyer further stated, 'In fact, neither Lesley nor her counsel were ever notified by law enforcement that she was considered an Epstein co-conspirator. On the contrary, after Lesley voluntarily spoke with prosecutors, and answered each and every question asked of her, she was told that she was not being prosecuted.'
Groff's name also appeared in a 2020 FBI interview with a survivor of Epstein's abuse. The survivor, whose name is redacted, stated that they felt Groff 'knew what was going on' and 'knew the massage appointments were sexual,' but acknowledged that they 'never said anything to Lesley about the massages.' Following Epstein's death, Groff, along with several other employees and associates, was named in civil lawsuits filed by survivors against Epstein and his estate. Some plaintiffs accused her of facilitating his abuse. Groff's attorney has maintained that she never engaged 'in any misconduct and never knowingly made travel arrangements for anyone under 18.' The civil claims against Groff were later dismissed. Her lawyer has called the allegations 'simply wrong, confused, and devoid of any facts establishing that she had any idea of Epstein's horrible and nefarious conduct.'
Congressional Testimony
Groff was subpoenaed by the House committee in March to appear for an interview. The letter from Representative James Comer, the Republican chair of the committee, stated, 'Due to public reporting, documents released by the Department of Justice, and documents obtained by the Committee, the Committee believes you have information that will assist in its investigation.' Last month, another of Epstein's former assistants, Sarah Kellen, also testified before the House committee. In her testimony, Kellen denied being an accomplice of Epstein and claimed she was 'sexually and psychologically abused' by the late financier during her employment.
