Epstein Survivors Accuse Former Assistant Lesley Groff of Lying to Congress, Fueling Calls for Criminal Referral
WASHINGTON — Jeffrey Epstein’s survivors are publicly challenging the testimony of his longtime executive assistant, Lesley Groff, accusing her of making false statements to Congress about her knowledge of the young women and girls recruited into Epstein’s sex trafficking operation.
The allegations, aired in new interviews with CNN, have intensified pressure on the House Oversight Committee as lawmakers review Groff’s closed-door testimony to determine whether she knowingly misled investigators. If committee members conclude that false statements were made, they could recommend a criminal referral to the U.S. Department of Justice. The accusations come as congressional investigators continue examining what critics describe as decades of institutional failures surrounding Epstein’s criminal enterprise and the actions of those closest to him.
Survivors Directly Contradict Groff’s Testimony
During a transcribed interview with the House Oversight Committee last month, Groff reportedly stated that she never met the girls or young women who provided massages to Epstein and had no knowledge of their identities, backgrounds, or ages. Multiple survivors interviewed by CNN dispute that account.
Among them is survivor Marina Lera, who described Groff as one of the most important gatekeepers within Epstein’s organization.nAccording to Lera, virtually anyone seeking access to Epstein first interacted with Groff.
“In order to even speak with Jeffrey Epstein, you had to go through Lesley Groff,” Lera told CNN.
Lera further alleged that she met Groff on numerous occasions and that Groff personally distributed envelopes containing cash payments as well as Broadway show tickets to young women connected to Epstein. The survivors argue these interactions make Groff’s congressional testimony difficult to reconcile with their own experiences.
Passport Records Become Key Piece of Evidence
One of the most significant factual disputes centers on passport documentation. Survivors say Groff routinely handled passports and travel paperwork for girls and young women brought into Epstein’s orbit. Those documents, they note, contained dates of birth that clearly identified many of the victims as minors.
If investigators determine Groff reviewed or processed those records, lawmakers could argue that claims of having no knowledge of the victims’ ages are contradicted by documentary evidence. Congressional investigators are reportedly comparing Groff’s testimony with travel records, employment documents, financial records, and other evidence collected during the investigation.
House Oversight Reviewing Potential False Statements
Members of the House Oversight Committee have confirmed they are reviewing Groff’s testimony alongside available evidence to determine whether criminal referrals are warranted. Representative James Walkinshaw, a Democratic member of the committee, has called for Groff to return for a public deposition under oath rather than another closed-door interview. According to Walkinshaw, allowing high profile witnesses to testify privately has reduced transparency and complicated efforts to fully examine inconsistencies in their statements.
If investigators conclude Groff knowingly provided false testimony, Congress has the authority to refer the matter to the Department of Justice for possible prosecution involving false statements or perjury, although any charging decision would ultimately rest with federal prosecutors. No criminal referral has been announced at this time.
Renewed Questions About the Epstein Investigation
The controversy surrounding Groff’s testimony has also reignited broader criticism of how federal authorities have handled the Epstein investigation over the years. Committee members and victims’ advocates continue to argue that key witnesses were never fully questioned during earlier federal investigations.
Critics point specifically to Epstein’s inner circle, including assistants, attorneys, financial advisers, and other employees who managed various aspects of his operations. Some lawmakers argue those individuals may possess critical information about how Epstein recruited victims, moved money, scheduled travel, and maintained relationships with powerful associates.
Dispute Over Unreleased Epstein Records
The latest controversy also comes amid continuing debate over millions of pages of investigative records connected to Epstein. Lawmakers have questioned why large portions of the investigative record remain unavailable to the public despite ongoing demands for greater transparency.
Justice Department officials have previously stated that many withheld materials consist of duplicate records, sealed evidence, or documents protected by privacy laws. Some members of Congress dispute that explanation, arguing that additional documents could shed light on individuals who have never been publicly scrutinized. The dispute has become another flashpoint in the years long debate over whether federal investigators fully exposed Epstein’s criminal network before his 2019 death.
State Investigations Continue
Federal scrutiny is not the only legal pressure surrounding the Epstein case. New Mexico Attorney General Raúl Torres has publicly stated that limited federal cooperation has complicated the state’s ongoing investigation into alleged crimes connected to Epstein’s Zorro Ranch property. State investigators continue reviewing evidence related to alleged assaults that occurred on the New Mexico estate.
Groff Has Not Been Charged
Despite the new allegations, Lesley Groff has never been criminally charged in connection with Jeffrey Epstein’s sex trafficking operation. CNN reported that Groff’s legal representatives did not respond to requests for comment regarding the survivors’ allegations.
At present, the accusations remain allegations made by survivors and members of Congress. Whether Groff knowingly made false statements will ultimately depend on the evidence reviewed by investigators and any action federal prosecutors may choose to pursue. As congressional investigators continue examining testimony from Epstein’s former associates, the latest allegations underscore that, nearly seven years after Epstein’s death, questions surrounding his inner circle and who knew what remain far from resolved.
