Sleuth Report: Six Epstein Survivors Challenge Lesley Groff’s Congressional Account
Overview
Six Epstein survivors told CNN that Lesley Groff’s statements to Congress conflicted with their direct experiences inside Jeffrey Epstein’s operation.
Groff served as Epstein’s executive assistant from 2001 until his 2019 arrest. She managed his calendar, scheduled massages, arranged travel, communicated with young women, and coordinated payments through Epstein’s accounting staff.
During a June 9, 2026 congressional interview, Groff denied knowingly scheduling minors, directly paying massage providers, or handling their passports. She maintained that Epstein concealed his abuse from her.
The survivor accounts reported by CNN and records available through Epstein Data raise serious questions about those statements. However, no court or congressional committee has concluded that Groff knowingly gave false information. Groff has not been criminally charged in connection with Epstein’s offenses.
What Groff Told Congress
Groff appeared voluntarily for a transcribed interview with the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform. She was informed that federal law required her to answer truthfully and that knowingly making false statements could result in criminal prosecution.
In her opening statement, Groff described Epstein as a manipulator who separated his legitimate activities from his abuse. She said she never saw or heard anything illegal.
Groff acknowledged that she scheduled massage appointments almost daily. She said Epstein supplied the names and telephone numbers.
She also acknowledged asking Epstein’s accounting department to place approximately $200 in envelopes for delivery to massage providers. However, she said she never directly paid anyone.
When questioned about passports, Groff said she may have seen a photograph of a passport but never handled passports. She acknowledged entering birth dates while arranging commercial travel. She said everyone whose information she handled was over 18.
Read the complete Lesley Groff congressional transcript.
Six Survivors Describe Direct Contact
According to CNN reporting summarized by CT Insider, six survivors said Groff’s testimony did not match their experiences.
Four survivors spoke publicly by name. Two remained anonymous.
Their accounts included allegations that Groff:
- Met young women connected to Epstein in person
- Discussed their ages and personal circumstances
- Provided or arranged cash payments
- Maintained identification or passport information
- Coordinated travel and entertainment
- Served as an intermediary between Epstein and young women
These are survivor allegations rather than judicial findings. Their importance comes from the consistency of the accounts and their relationship to records describing Groff’s administrative role.
Evidence of Contact With an Underage Survivor
An FBI interview released through Epstein Data provides particularly significant evidence.
The unidentified survivor told investigators that she entered Epstein’s orbit when she was 15. She said Epstein’s office calls were frequently handled through Groff.
The survivor reported visiting the office to collect money and Broadway tickets. She recalled providing identification before receiving tickets. She also said she discussed being unable to sign an apartment lease because she was under 18.
According to the FBI interview summary, the survivor told Groff that she needed money for hotels because she was too young to lease an apartment. Groff allegedly agreed to relay the request to Epstein.
The survivor also described discussing new girls with Groff and collecting money from the office. She believed her age and financial relationship with Epstein were apparent.
This interview does not independently prove what Groff knew. It records the survivor’s account to federal investigators. Nevertheless, it directly challenges the suggestion that Groff had no meaningful contact with underage girls around Epstein.
Read FBI survivor interview EFTA00090339.
Cash Payments and Envelopes
Groff told Congress that she never directly paid anyone. She acknowledged arranging for accounting staff to place cash in envelopes and have the money delivered.
Marina Lacerda reportedly gave CNN a different account. Lacerda said Groff personally handed her hundreds of dollars in a long white envelope while Epstein was away. She placed the encounter on the stairs inside Epstein’s Manhattan residence.
Other survivors also described white envelopes containing cash.
The congressional transcript confirms that cash envelopes were part of Epstein’s payment system. Groff admitted asking the accounting department to prepare cash for massage providers. The unresolved question is whether she merely arranged those payments or personally delivered them as survivors allege.
The available evidence supports the existence of an organized cash payment process. It does not, by itself, establish Groff’s knowledge of the sexual abuse connected to some appointments.
Passport and Age Information
Groff testified that she did not handle passports. She acknowledged that she may have seen a passport image and that she entered birth dates while arranging travel.
Survivor Sharlene Rochard reportedly told CNN that Groff possessed her passport information because Groff arranged travel. Another survivor said Groff helped complete her first passport application.
The FBI interview in EFTA00090339 presents a separate age issue. The survivor described showing identification at Epstein’s office and telling Groff she could not sign a lease because she was not yet 18.
Groff’s acknowledgment that she entered birth dates also means she had access to age information for at least some travelers. She told Congress that none of those individuals was under 18.
These records do not establish that every young woman encountered by Groff was a minor. They do create a factual conflict requiring examination of travel records, passport communications, and survivor testimony.
Travel and Operational Support
Groff admitted arranging domestic and international travel for women associated with Epstein. She characterized them as traveling assistants and estimated that she may have arranged travel for approximately 50 to 70 women, although she said she could not provide a reliable number.
The transcript also references email evidence showing Groff communicating with American Express Centurion Travel. One congressional exhibit was identified as EFTA02062951.
The central question is not whether Groff arranged travel. That is established by her testimony and documentary records. The dispute concerns the travelers’ ages, the purpose of the trips, and what Groff knew about Epstein’s activities.
Read travel record EFTA02062951.
Entertainment, Money, and Access
The report by Lisa Tait describes emails in which Groff arranged Broadway shows, Radio City events, and other entertainment for women connected to Epstein.
The FBI survivor interview independently supports this part of the account. The survivor described obtaining Broadway tickets through Epstein’s office and said Groff checked identification before providing approximately six tickets.
The same interview describes Groff as a regular communications channel. The survivor said she contacted Groff when she needed money, tickets, medical assistance, or access to Epstein.
These activities appear administrative when viewed individually. Together, they illustrate how Epstein maintained relationships through money, entertainment, transportation, and personal assistance.
What the Records Establish
The available records establish several important facts.
- Groff scheduled massage appointments for Epstein almost daily.
- She arranged cash envelopes for massage providers through Epstein’s accounting department.
- She coordinated travel and entered birth dates for some travelers.
- She served as an intermediary between Epstein and women around him.
- An FBI interview records an underage survivor describing repeated communications with Groff.
- The survivor described discussing her age related housing problem with Groff.
- Groff remained employed by Epstein after learning about the Florida investigation and his 2008 conviction.
These facts do not automatically prove criminal knowledge or participation. They do show that Groff’s work intersected with systems Epstein used to contact, transport, entertain, and pay young women.
Groff’s Response
Groff denies knowingly facilitating Epstein’s crimes.
Her attorney, Michael Bachner, told CNN that she stands by her congressional statements. Groff maintains that Epstein concealed his abusive conduct and that she believed the women she assisted were adults performing legitimate work.
Groff has not been convicted or charged with making false statements to Congress. Any conclusion about whether she knowingly lied would require evidence concerning her memory, intent, knowledge, and the precise meaning of each question and answer.
Congress Considers Survivor Affidavits
Following CNN’s report, congressional officials reportedly discussed obtaining sworn affidavits from survivors.
According to a CNN report published by KRDO, Chairman James Comer said the committee needed sworn statements before taking further action.
Committee investigators were reportedly comparing Groff’s transcript with survivor accounts and released records.
This development does not mean Congress has determined that Groff made false statements. It shows that the survivors’ allegations were considered serious enough to warrant additional review.
Fact Check Assessment
The claim that six survivors accused Groff of giving false information to Congress is supported by CNN’s reporting.
The claim that Groff denied directly paying massage providers is supported by the congressional transcript.
The claim that Groff arranged cash envelopes is also supported by her testimony.
The claim that Groff never encountered information showing a survivor was underage is disputed by the FBI interview in EFTA00090339.
The survivor’s statement is evidence of what she reported to federal investigators. It is not a judicial finding about Groff’s knowledge.
The claim that Groff handled travel and birth date information is confirmed by her congressional testimony.
There has been no public finding that Groff committed perjury or knowingly made false statements. Groff has not been criminally charged in connection with Epstein’s operation.
Key Takeaways
- Six survivors told CNN that Groff’s congressional account conflicted with their direct experiences.
- Groff admitted scheduling massages, coordinating travel, entering birth dates, and arranging cash envelopes.
- An FBI interview records an underage survivor describing repeated contact with Groff.
- That survivor said she discussed being unable to sign a lease because she was under 18.
- Survivor accounts allege that Groff personally provided cash and maintained passport information.
- Groff denies knowing about Epstein’s abuse and stands by her testimony.
- Congress reportedly considered obtaining sworn survivor affidavits.
- No official body has concluded that Groff knowingly lied to Congress.
- Groff has not been criminally charged in connection with Epstein’s offenses.
- The records justify further comparison of survivor statements, travel documents, payment records, and Groff’s testimony.
Related EpsteinWiki Articles
- Lesley Groff
- Lesley Groff and the Question of Victimhood
- Epstein Assistant Lesley Groff and Sarah Kellen Under Renewed Scrutiny
- Lesley Groff Article Archive
Evidence Files
- FBI survivor interview EFTA00090339
- Groff travel exhibit EFTA02062951
- Epstein Data deposition archive