House Oversight Committee Releases Transcript of Epstein Assistant’s Testimony on Travel Bookings

U.S. lawmakers questioned Jeffrey Epstein's longtime assistant Lesley Groff about the use of American Express to book travel for multiple women or girls, according to a transcript released this week by the House Oversight Committee. CBS News was the first to report in February that Epstein used Amex's Centurion travel service and an Amex Black Card to arrange hundreds of travel itineraries for women or girls, predominantly from Eastern Europe.

Groff, who worked for Epstein for nearly two decades, served as a central point-person in arranging the bookings with Amex, according to documents released by the Justice Department earlier this year. In her sworn testimony on June 9, Groff said she did not believe she ever arranged travel for girls under the age of 18.

She stated her understanding was that the bookings were for "traveling assistants" employed by Epstein and denied awareness of any instance in which the purpose was for Epstein or anyone in his network to engage in sexual activity with the women involved.

The committee pressed Groff about whether "decoy flights" had been arranged for visa purposes. In a 2016 email, Groff requested a decoy flight from Rome to London for a redacted individual while holding a separate Rome to Miami flight. Groff told lawmakers the woman wanted to visit Epstein without her parents knowing and that the arrangement was not for a visa.

In a December 2012 email exchange, Groff requested proof of hotel stay and air travel for a redacted individual with a consulate interview. Amex relationship manager Natalia Molotkova noted it was against company policy to hold reservations solely for visa purposes but offered to hold it until that night. Groff directed cancellation of the itinerary the day after the appointment.