Lesley Groff, Jeffrey Epstein's longtime executive assistant, testified before the House Oversight Committee on Tuesday as part of their ongoing investigation into the late convicted sex offender's activities. According to multiple reports, Groff worked for Epstein from 2001 until his arrest in July 2019.
Key Takeaways
Lesley Groff, Jeffrey Epstein's longtime executive assistant, testified before the House Oversight Committee on Tuesday as part of their ongoing investigation into his activities. She denied knowing about Epstein's crimes and stated he was a master manipulator who kept secrets from her. Survivors have expressed skepticism about her claims.
⚖
▼Source Claims Check
1 Difference FoundAll 5 publishers report consistent facts across 2 key claims. 1 point of difference noted.
| Claim | Status | Reason | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Groff's Knowledge Of Epstein's Crimes | 1 Difference | Majority reports Groff denies knowledge; CNN quotes survivor skepticism | ▼ |
| Groff's Role In Epstein's Organization | Broad Agreement | Groff managed Epstein's schedule and arranged his daily activities | |
| Number Of Times Groff's Name Appears In Epstein Files | Broad Agreement | Over 150,000 times |
Groff's Knowledge Of Epstein's Crimes
▼Majority reports Groff denies knowledge; CNN quotes survivor skepticism
Groff's Role In Epstein's Organization
Broad AgreementGroff managed Epstein's schedule and arranged his daily activities
Number Of Times Groff's Name Appears In Epstein Files
Broad AgreementOver 150,000 times
This analysis is AI-generated and may not perfectly represent each source's reporting. Always read the original articles for full context.
The committee's investigation aims to uncover more details about Epstein's operations and those involved. Representative Robert Garcia, the top Democrat on the House committee, told Good Morning America that Groff is “really central to Epstein’s organization,” adding, “We have a lot of questions.” As reported by PBS NewsHour, Groff was subpoenaed in March to appear before the panel.
Groff's responsibilities included managing Epstein's schedule and arranging his daily activities. According to FBI notes from a 2021 interview with Groff, she stated that scheduling massages for Epstein was part of her routine tasks. She also mentioned that she signed a non-disclosure agreement when she started working for him.
During the transcribed interview on Tuesday morning by the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee behind closed doors, Groff denied knowing about Epstein's crimes, stating she never saw anything improper. Her name appears more than 150,000 times in the Epstein files released by the Department of Justice.
Groff told lawmakers that she believed the massage appointments she made for Epstein with young women and girls were with licensed massage therapists. She said Epstein had every reason to keep his crimes secret from her. Groff also stated that since Epstein's arrest, she has lost friends and her family has faced harassment.
Groff's attorney, Michael Bachner, has consistently maintained that she had no knowledge of Epstein's crimes and never engaged in any misconduct. No criminal charges have ever been brought against her. According to The Guardian, Groff worked for Epstein as part of a professional staff that included in-house attorneys, accountants, and other office staff.
Survivors have expressed skepticism about Groff's claims. Sharlene Rochard told CNN, “One of the hardest parts for survivors is hearing the people who were closest to Epstein claim they saw nothing.” She added, “That doesn't match my experience. Survivors deserve answers, not claims of ignorance.”
Committee Chairman Rep. James Comer, R-Ky., told MS Now that the panel has referred two names of individuals to the Department of Justice. The committee is scheduled to interview Microsoft founder Bill Gates on Wednesday.
How this summary was created
This summary synthesizes reporting from 5 independent publishers using AI. All sources are cited and linked below. NewsBalance is a news aggregator and media literacy tool, not a news publisher. AI-generated content may contain errors or inaccuracies — always verify important information with the original sources.