Lesley Groff Tells House Oversight Epstein Was A Master Manipulator, Denies Knowing Crimes

Lesley Groff, Jeffrey Epstein’s longtime executive assistant, told the House Oversight Committee Tuesday that Epstein was a "master manipulator" and that she was unaware of his crimes.

“Former Epstein executive secretary tells Oversight Committee he was a 'master manipulator' Lesley Groff appeared as part of the committee's inquiry into Epstein”

ABC News

Groff appeared as part of the committee’s inquiry into the federal government’s handling of investigations into Epstein and his alleged co-conspirators, in testimony described as closed-door and transcribed.

ABC News

ABC News reported Groff worked for Epstein in New York for more than 18 years and that she said she never had a romantic or sexual relationship with him.

In her prepared opening remarks obtained by The Guardian, Groff said, "Nothing could be further from the truth."

Survivors and lawmakers pushed back on Groff’s account, with CNN quoting Sharlene Rochard saying, "One of the hardest parts for survivors is hearing the people who were closest to Epstein claim they saw nothing."

Rochard added, "Survivors deserve answers, not claims of ignorance," as she questioned whether Groff could truly have been unaware.

CNBC

MS NOW reported Rep. Stephen Lynch, D-Mass., said Groff’s characterization of her relationship with Epstein was "highly inconsistent" and questioned whether she could "rightfully and truthfully maintain that she saw nothing improper."

CNN also reported House Oversight Chair James Comer described Groff as "very forthcoming" and said the committee would "have to review that" after her denial was met with condemnation from survivors.

The committee’s Groff testimony came as the House Oversight Committee prepared to interview Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates on Wednesday, with Spectrum News saying the closed-door interview was scheduled the day after Groff’s appearance.

“One of Jeffrey Epstein’s longtime assistants told members of the House Oversight Committee on Tuesday morning that she did not know about the late convicted sex offender’s crimes, describing him as a master manipulator who had every reason to keep them a secret from her, according to two sources familiar with the testimony”

CNN

Spectrum News reported that a spokesperson for Gates said in a statement Tuesday that he "welcomes the opportunity to appear before the Committee" and that he "never witnessed or participated in any of Epstein’s illegal conduct."

ABC News said House Oversight Chairman James Comer believed Groff has "information that is very valuable" to the investigation and reiterated that the committee is conducting "the most thorough investigation ever of Epstein."

CNN reported that Rep. Robert Garcia said Groff provided the committee with additional names in Epstein’s orbit for further investigation, while ABC News described the inquiry as including interviews with former Attorney General Pam Bondi, Epstein’s longtime personal assistant Sarah Kellen, and a prison guard who was on duty the night Epstein died in his jail cell.