Lesley Groff And The Transcript From Her Epstein Related Trip to Congress (Part 7) (7/4/26) - The Epstein Chronicles

Summary5 min read

The Epstein Chronicles

Episode: Lesley Groff And The Transcript From Her Epstein Related Trip to Congress (Part 7)
Host: Bobby Capucci
Date: July 5, 2026

Episode Overview

In this episode, host Bobby Capucci continues his detailed examination of Lesley Groff’s congressional testimony concerning her years as a key assistant to Jeffrey Epstein. The episode zeroes in on direct transcript excerpts from Groff’s questioning, focusing on her knowledge of — or denials about — Epstein’s sexual abuse of underage girls, her perceptions of his criminal charges, and her interactions with other prominent figures linked to Epstein. Capucci maintains his investigative tone, aiming to illuminate the nuances of Groff’s responses and the broader implications for accountability among Epstein’s circle of associates.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Lesley Groff’s Knowledge of Investigations and Charges

Groff states she first learned of Epstein’s Palm Beach investigation in 2007 and that he told her he was being "blackmailed." (01:10)
Quote:
“He told me that he was being blackmailed. He didn’t know that this person was a minor and that was it. And I believed him. He lied to me.” — Lesley Groff (02:30)
She maintains that Epstein convinced her the allegations were false and that he was a victim of a setup.

2. Confronted with Sexual Abuse Allegations

Repeatedly, Groff claims she had no knowledge of any improper conduct and believed that only one minor, not multiple, was involved due to a “mistake.” (03:00–05:00)
When asked about whether learning the charges involved minors concerned her:
“I didn’t like it. But he... He was remorseful and said he didn’t know that it was a mistake and he was being blackmailed, and I believed him.” — Lesley Groff (05:35)
She never reevaluated her work for Epstein or saw his behavior in a different light, stating she’s a “very positive person” and “believes the best in people.” (07:30)

3. Scheduling Young Women for Epstein

Despite her role in scheduling young women for Epstein, Groff claims she “never saw anything improper” and observed everyone around as “seemed very happy.” (09:10)
She felt reassured continuing her work by observing that colleagues and business associates — “people smarter than me” — did not leave Epstein after his conviction. (10:30)
Quote:
“I looked around the office and I felt people smarter than me were still there... Everybody was under the same impression that he was being blackmailed and it was all a scheme.” — Lesley Groff (10:50)

4. Denials Regarding High-Profile Epstein Associates

Groff categorically denies awareness of Epstein or Maxwell introducing minor girls to influential figures (e.g., Kimball Musk, Martin Nowak, Richard Branson, David Blaine, Larry Summers, Prince Andrew, Jean Luc Brunel) for sexual activity. (11:30–15:00)
On Prince Andrew:
“I know they spoke on the phone and visited with each other, but I don’t know what their relationship truly was... It’s fair to say they were friends.” — Lesley Groff (13:30)

5. Relationship with Jean Luc Brunel

Groff describes Epstein and Brunel as “friends and business partners,” with Epstein invested in Brunel’s modeling agency. (15:30)
She asserts she was unaware of any sexual misconduct involving Brunel, and, to her knowledge, did not arrange travel, visas, or housing for underage girls from Brunel’s agency. (16:00)

6. Confrontation with FBI Survivor Accounts

The committee presents an FBI interview summary where a survivor claims Groff knew she was a minor and arranged for massages and hotel stays for her, also knowing she needed money for an abortion. (17:45)
Groff categorically denies these claims:
“I feel terrible for this survivor. I’m not saying what she’s thinking that she told someone, but she did not tell me. I think she is mistaken. I know she is mistaken.” — Lesley Groff (18:50)
Direct question if she ever booked massages for a minor, knowing their age: “No.” — Lesley Groff (18:30)
She further denies any knowledge of Epstein paying for abortions for minors. (19:50)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

On Epstein’s explanation for his arrest:
“He didn’t know that it was a minor... he was being blackmailed, and I believed him.” (04:00)
On the conduct of her job post-conviction:
“Everyone who was around, as said, seemed very happy. No one ever seemed to be in duress.” (09:30)
On the survivor's accusations to the FBI:
“She did not tell me. I think she is mistaken. I know she is mistaken.” (18:50)

Timestamps for Important Segments

| Timestamp | Segment Description | |-----------|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 01:10 | Groff recounts first learning about the Palm Beach investigation | | 02:30 | Her beliefs regarding blackmail and trusting Epstein's account | | 05:35 | Discussion of whether learning about minors was concerning to her | | 07:30 | Groff’s positive outlook and decision to remain working for Epstein | | 10:50 | Rationalization for staying—presence of colleagues and businesspeople | | 11:30 | Denials regarding knowledge of minor girls being introduced to high-profile visitors | | 13:30 | Comments on Epstein’s relationship with Prince Andrew | | 15:30 | Description of Epstein’s relationship with Jean Luc Brunel | | 17:45 | Survivor's FBI statement presented and Groff’s categorical denial | | 18:50 | Groff rejects claims that she knowingly arranged underage encounters |

Conclusion

This episode offers raw, direct excerpts from Lesley Groff’s congressional interrogation, with host Bobby Capucci underscoring the contradictions between Groff’s denials and survivor accounts. The testimony provides rare insight into the mindset of Epstein’s inner circle and is notable for Groff’s unwavering insistence on her ignorance, even as she is shown documentary evidence to the contrary.

The episode promises further parsing of these transcripts and survivor statements in upcoming segments, as part of its ongoing quest for clarity in the sprawling Epstein case.

For related documents and full transcripts, see the episode description.

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[00:00]
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[00:30]
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What's up, everyone, and welcome to another episode of the Epstein Chronicles. In this episode, we're going to pick up where we left off with the Leslie Groff interview with Congress. Question Ms. Redacted When did you first learn that Mr. Epstein was under investigation by the Palm beach police? Answer I believe it was in 2007. Question what was your understanding at the time of why he was being investigated? Answer he told me that he was being blackmailed. Question when did you first learn that he had been arrested and charged with solicitation of prostitution? Answer I think sometime around 2007. Question what was your understanding at the time of exactly what he was accused of doing of the underlying conduct? Answer could you say that again? I'm sorry? Question what was your understanding at the time of exactly what he was accused of doing? Answer I believed him. I believed that he was being blackmailed and that it was false and that he totally had me believe that he was. It was not what they were saying. Question when did you first learn that the conduct at issue involved the sexual abuse of minor girls, specifically high school students? Answer when did I. Could you say that again? When did you first learn that the conduct at issue involved the sexual abuse of minor girls, specifically high school students? Mr. Bauchner, could you give a time frame as to when you want. You mean ever learned? When did she learn that? Yes. In relation to him being arrested and charged? Mr. I'm sorry. In 2007? Yeah, correct. Ms. Groff. In 2007, I believe he told me that he was being charged with solicitation of a minor, but that he was being blackmailed. He didn't know that this person was a minor and that was it. And I believed him. He lied to me. Question did learning that the conduct at issue that what he was accused of involved minors? Did that concern you at all? Mr. Whitcomb Just objection to the form of the question, Mr. Counsel, this is a transcribed interview in Congress. There are no rules of evidence here, so please let council ask the question. Mr. Whitcomb. Okay. I'll take that under advisement, sir. Mr. Redacted. Thank you. Mr. Bauchner. Just for clarity, say minor, not minors. I was going to say I didn't even think it was plural. I was told it was a minor, so I did not. I was not. I was unaware that you're making it plural. I was told it was one minor and it was a mistake and that he was being blackmailed. Redacted. So it didn't concern you to learn that the conduct at issue involved gets cut off by Grof. Well, then gets cut off by redacted under your belief, a minor. It didn't concern you, Ms. Groff? Well, I didn't. I didn't like it. But he. He was remorseful and said he didn't know that it was a mistake and he was being blackmailed, and I believed him. Redacted. Question. If I can ask, if he's being blackmailed, what's he remorseful for? Answer. Well, he didn't know that it was a minor. Question. He didn't know that was a minor. Answer. The person that was accusing him, that was blackmailing him. Question. So I guess just to back up a little bit, you're describing how Mr. Epstein's being blackmailed. Can you describe, I guess, what the blackmail is that he told you? Like, what's the underlying conduct? And. And how is he being blackmailed? Answer. Right. I believed. I just thought that whoever this was must have done it on purpose and, I don't know, shown him a fake I.D. i don't know. We didn't get into specifics. He didn't tell me exactly how it was happening, but I thought that it seemed like something that could be happening to him because he was a very wealthy man. Question. And then you mentioned it was a mistake. That was a mistake, that he didn't know that this person was a minor. Question. And what did he do with this miner that would cause this? Answer. Oh, I don't know. Question. So he was just interacting with a minor, and now the miner is blackmailing him? I just want to make sure that I understand what you're conveying here. Answer. Right. Yes. I don't think that he knew it was a setup. He believed it was a setup, and that's the way he explained it to me. Question. Did learning that he was involved with a minor lead you to reevaluate anything that you had seen or heard or learned about up until that point, as one of his employees? Answer. Evaluate. Question. Did you see anything that you had been asked to do maybe in a different light, knowing that Mr. Epstein had been involved with a minor. Answer I had never seen anything improper, and I did not think that way. I'm a very positive person. I believe the best in people. And no. Question. And did you have any reservations about continuing to work for Mr. Epstein? Answer not at that time. Question in the following years, you spent a significant amount of time scheduling young women to visit and travel with Mr. Epstein. Given that he had pleaded guilty to conduct involving minors, were you concerned that he was sexually abusing these young women? Answer no. I never saw anything. She gets cut off by the questioner. That didn't cross your mind at any point? I never saw anything improper. Everyone who was around, as said, seemed very happy. No one ever seemed to be in duress, and I did not. Question and what was your interpretation of why he pleaded guilty? If he's explaining to you that the underlying allegations were false, why did he plead guilty? Groff, why did he plead guilty? What did he tell you if he did? Whitcomb, if you know, he just told me that he was being blackmailed and that's it. And I understand that he may have told you that. I guess I'm asking for your opinion. So at some point he tells you that he's being blackmailed. Eventually down the line, he pleads guilty to these charges, which you mentioned that you became aware of, right? Question in your opinion or I guess in your mind at the time, how did you square those two things? Ms. Groff? I looked around the office and I felt people smarter than me were still there, and I stayed there. All his contacts and business people, no one left. And I kind of looked at that and thought, wow, if everybody else is staying. And Dara said, I feel like smarter than me. Everybody was under the same impression that it was he was being blackmailed and it was all a scheme. Miss. Redacted for the following individuals. Were you ever aware of Mr. Epstein or Ms. Maxwell introducing them to any minor girls or. Or young women for the purpose of engaging in sexual activity? Kimball Musk? Answer no Question. Martin Nowak? Answer no. Richard Branson? Answer no. David Copperfield? Answer no. David Blaine? Answer no. Larry Summers? Answer no. Sultan Ahmed Bin Suleim? Answer no. Frederick Fakai? Answer no. Paolo Zampoli? I don't know who that is. Peter Mandelson? Answer no Question. Stephen Hansen? Answer no Question. During that time that you worked for Mr. Epstein, what was your understanding of his relationship with Andrew Mountbatten Windsor, former Prince Andrew? Huh? Sure. I didn't know what the relationship was. I know they spoke on the phone and visited with each other, but I don't know what their relationship truly was. Question. Is it fair to say they were friends? It's fair to say that. Were you ever aware of Mr. Epstein or Ms. Maxwell soliciting minor girls or young women to meet Mr. Mountbatten Windsor? No. Question. And were you ever aware of Mr. Mountbatten Windsor engaging in sexual activity with any minor girls or young women introduced to him by Mr. Epstein or Ms. Maxwell? No. Question. What was your understanding of Mr. Epstein's relationship with Jean Luc Brunel? Answer. Jean Luc Brunel was an owner of a modeling agency, and I believe that Mr. Epstein was invested in that modeling agency with him. Question by Ms. Redacted. Were you ever aware of Mr. Brunel engaging in sexual activity with minor girls or young women who were introduced to him by Mr. Epstein or Ms. Maxwell? Answer no question. Were you ever aware of Mr. Epstein engaging in sexual activity with minor girls or young women who were introduced to him by Mr. Brunel? Answer no Question. Did you arrange travel or visas for any minor girls or young women working for Mr. Brunel's modeling agency? Not that I'm aware of. I did not organize visas. Did you ever arrange housing for any minor girls or young women working for Mr. Brunel's modeling agency? If I was directed to set aside an apartment of Mr. Epstein's for one of Mr. Brunel's models, it's possible, but I did not. It was my job to say who was going to stay in an apartment. Question. How did you learn about Mr. Epstein's relationship with Mr. Brunel? Answer. I think Mr. Brunel came to the office where I connected him on the phone. Just. It was. He was there before me. He was just a friend. I started in 2001. I think they knew each other before that. Question. And would you qualify Mr. Epstein's relationship with Mr. Brunel as a friendship? Mr. Groff or Ms. Groff? I think there were friends and business partners. Ms. Groff, you said a number of times that you met or you never met any minor girl who was giving Mr. Epstein a massage. Is that correct? Correct. And you said you did not know that any of those girls were in fact minors? Correct. I would like to introduce as a minority Exhibit A, a summary of the FBI's November 4, 2020 interview with a survivor of Mr. Epstein's abuse. The Bates number is EFTA 00090339. We've marked the Relevant paragraph for you. Redacted. According to the summary, the survivor told the FBI that she first started giving Mr. Epstein massages when she was 15 years old. She explained that the massages were pretenses for sexual abuse and said that, quote, it was pretty obvious Leslie knew what was going on. She also said that you knew she was a minor because she explicitly told you that she was not 18 years old. And she also told you that she needed money for an abortion. So I'll ask you again, Ms. Groff, did you ever book massages for Mr. Epstein by a girl you knew was a minor? No. Question. So your testimony here today is that the survivor told the FBI what they told them was not true? Answer. I feel terrible for this survivor. I'm not saying what she's thinking that she told someone, but she did not tell me. I think she is mistaken. I know she is mistaken. Question. The summary said redacted. Said to Leslie that she could not sign a lease because she was not 18 years old. Also redacted. Told Leslie that she could not get an apartment because she was not 18. She explained to the FBI that she had to live in hotels as a result and that you helped her pay for them. Your testimony today is that that is not true. My testimony today is to say that that is not true. Mr. Were you ever aware of Mr. Epstein paying for a minor girl or young woman to have an abortion? Ms. Groff? No question. Ms. Groff, I have a few questions about redacted. We're going to have some members ask some questions. Groff. Okay. All right, folks, we're going to wrap up right here. And in the next episode, we're going to pick up where we left off. All the information that goes with this episode can be found in the description box.