Epstein Victims Accuse Former Assistant of Lying to Congress
Multiple former victims of Jeffrey Epstein say his longtime assistant Lesley Groff lied under oath to a congressional committee, claiming she never met them despite their allegations of repeated contact.
Epstein Victims Accuse Former Assistant of Lying to Congress
Multiple women who say they were abused by Jeffrey Epstein have accused his former assistant, Lesley Groff, of giving false testimony to a U.S. congressional committee. According to CNN, six of Epstein's former victims — four named and two speaking anonymously — stated that Groff lied when she told lawmakers she had never met them.
Groff worked alongside Epstein for 18 years. On June 9, she testified before a congressional oversight committee, claiming she had never encountered the young women and girls brought to the financier's homes. She also said she knew nothing about their backgrounds, ages, or the crimes Epstein committed.
The victims told a different story. Marina Lacerda, who met Epstein in 2002 at age 14, said she spoke with Groff multiple times over the years. Lacerda claimed Groff asked about her age and advised her to bring her school ID to verify how young she was. Another victim alleged Groff repeatedly requested that she leave school early and keep her uniform on for Epstein to see.
Sharlene Rochard, a former young model who encountered Epstein in New York, also said she met Groff on several occasions. Lara Blume McGee, who says she was regularly abused between 2001 and 2003, reported running into Groff at Epstein's residence as well.
Several victims stated that Groff personally paid them for their services, often in cash-filled envelopes at Epstein's New York office building. Groff denied ever working in that office between 2001 and 2013.
Passport arrangements added another layer of contradiction. One victim said Groff helped her obtain a passport for travel, while Rochard claimed Groff held her passport during a trip. Groff denied handling any travel documents for the women.
Although investigators once treated Groff as a possible accomplice, she was never charged under a controversial 2008 non-prosecution agreement with federal prosecutors in Florida. Epstein died by suicide in his jail cell in 2019. His former associate Ghislaine Maxwell was sentenced to 20 years in prison in June 2024 for child sex trafficking.
Democratic members of the oversight committee argued Groff should have been required to testify under oath. A committee spokesperson told CNN they are examining the contradictions between her statements and earlier victim accounts. Knowingly and willfully lying before a congressional committee is a federal crime, and if proven, Groff could face legal consequences. Her attorney did not respond to requests for comment.
Source: Telex