Lesley Groff Congressional Testimony Before the House Oversight Committee
Overview
On June 9, 2026, longtime Jeffrey Epstein executive secretary Lesley Groff appeared before the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform for a transcribed interview as part of the Committee’s ongoing investigation into Jeffrey Epstein, Ghislaine Maxwell, and the networks that enabled their activities. The interview lasted several hours and focused on Groff’s role inside Epstein’s organization, her knowledge of massage scheduling, her interactions with Maxwell, her access to Epstein’s contact databases, and whether she had any awareness of criminal conduct occurring around her.
The testimony is significant because Groff worked for Epstein from 2001 until shortly after his 2019 arrest, making her one of the longest serving employees within Epstein’s operation.
Lesley Groff’s Role Inside Epstein’s Organization
Groff testified that she was hired in February 2001 after being recruited by a headhunter who found her resume on Monster.com. She interviewed first with Ghislaine Maxwell and then with Jeffrey Epstein before accepting a position as his executive secretary.
According to Groff, her responsibilities included:
- Managing Epstein’s calendar
- Coordinating appointments
- Scheduling meetings
- Managing calls
- Coordinating staff activities
- Arranging travel related logistics
- Scheduling massages requested by Epstein
She described the position as extremely demanding, with Epstein frequently calling every fifteen minutes to issue instructions throughout the day.
Claims of Limited Knowledge
A central theme of Groff’s testimony was her assertion that she had no knowledge of Epstein’s criminal conduct during her employment.
Groff stated that Epstein intentionally kept employees separated from his private life and that she was never permitted to socialize with him or his associates. She testified that she never traveled on Epstein’s plane, never attended his parties, and rarely visited his private residences.
She further stated that she never witnessed illegal conduct and never saw evidence that women being scheduled for massages were minors. According to Groff, no alleged victim ever informed her that abuse had occurred.
Testimony Regarding Massage Scheduling
One of the most heavily examined topics involved Groff’s role in arranging massages.
Groff acknowledged that scheduling massages was a routine part of her job from the beginning of her employment. She testified that Maxwell and other employees informed her that massages were a normal part of Epstein’s daily schedule.
She stated that:
- Epstein provided the names and phone numbers of individuals he wanted contacted
- She generally made brief phone calls to confirm availability
- She did not independently select massage providers
- She did not inquire about ages
- She generally assumed they were professional massage therapists
- She never personally met most of the women she contacted
Groff estimated that Epstein used more than a dozen massage providers and possibly between twenty and thirty individuals between 2001 and 2007.
She further testified that some massage providers contacted the office seeking appointments and that cash payments were occasionally delivered through Epstein’s accounting department.
The Black Book and Contact Directories
Committee investigators questioned Groff extensively regarding Epstein’s contact databases and phone directories.
Groff identified committee exhibits as versions of Epstein’s well known contact directories, commonly referred to as the Black Book. She testified that copies existed in offices and residences associated with Epstein.
According to Groff:
- She did not create the directories
- She believed Ghislaine Maxwell originally created them
- Employees could add contacts to the computerized database
- She sometimes added names and phone numbers when directed by Epstein
- Multiple staff members had access to edit entries
Groff testified that many contacts were entered into a computer system and that printed books were generated from that database.
Ghislaine Maxwell’s Role
Throughout her testimony, Groff repeatedly referenced Maxwell’s influence within Epstein’s organization.
She stated that Maxwell participated in her hiring process, trained her on office procedures, and helped establish expectations for employees. Groff testified that Maxwell and Epstein jointly enforced strict rules prohibiting staff from socializing with their contacts or entering their personal lives.
Groff further stated that she believed Maxwell originally assembled portions of the massage contact lists later found in Epstein’s directories.
The 2008 Investigation and Epstein’s Explanation
Groff testified that she remained employed after Epstein’s 2008 conviction because she believed his explanation of events.
According to her testimony, Epstein claimed he had been blackmailed and falsely accused. Groff stated that Epstein’s attorneys repeated similar explanations and that she believed those claims at the time. She testified that she now believes Epstein manipulated those around him and concealed his activities from employees.
She also revealed that she later learned she had been included as a potential co conspirator within the controversial 2007 non prosecution agreement despite never agreeing to such language.
Resignation Following the 2019 Arrest
Groff testified that she resigned shortly after Epstein’s July 2019 arrest.
She stated that the arrest caused her concern and that she no longer wanted to be associated with Epstein. According to her testimony, she communicated her resignation through attorney Darren Indyke rather than directly to Epstein.
Key Takeaways
- Lesley Groff worked for Jeffrey Epstein from 2001 until shortly after his 2019 arrest.
- She testified that she had no knowledge of Epstein’s sex trafficking operation.
- She acknowledged regularly scheduling massages for Epstein throughout her employment.
- She estimated Epstein may have used twenty to thirty massage providers during part of her tenure.
- She identified Ghislaine Maxwell as a key figure in office operations and contact management.
- She confirmed that staff members had access to contact databases that became the basis for the Black Book.
- She testified that she believed Epstein’s explanation following his 2008 conviction.
- She stated that she resigned after Epstein’s 2019 arrest because she no longer wanted to be associated with him.
- The testimony provides one of the most detailed public accounts of daily administrative operations inside Epstein’s organization.
Related EpsteinWiki Articles
- Jeffrey Epstein
- Ghislaine Maxwell
- Sarah Kellen
- Darren Indyke
- Jeffrey Epstein Black Book
- 2007 Non Prosecution Agreement