The House Oversight Committee has released a transcript revealing detailed questioning of Lesley Groff, Jeffrey Epstein’s longtime assistant, regarding the convicted sex offender’s extensive use of American Express services to arrange travel for numerous women and girls.
Groff, who served in Epstein’s employ for nearly two decades, testified under oath on June 9 about her role as a central coordinator in booking hundreds of travel itineraries through American Express’s premium Centurion travel service. The testimony, made public this week, provides new insight into the operational mechanics of Epstein’s network.
According to documents released by the Department of Justice earlier this year, Epstein utilized an American Express Black Card and the company’s top-tier travel service to arrange flights and accommodations primarily for women from Eastern Europe. The exact number of individuals involved and their ages remain unclear, as the Justice Department redacted identifying information from the released files.
During her testimony, Groff stated she did not believe she ever arranged travel for minors under the age of eighteen. She characterized her understanding of these bookings as being for “traveling assistants” in Epstein’s employment. Furthermore, Groff denied any knowledge of instances where the purpose of such travel involved sexual activity between Epstein, members of his network, and the women in question.
The committee pressed Groff on the matter of what have been termed “decoy flights.” These arrangements allegedly served the purpose of obtaining visas for women or girls connected to Epstein’s operations. Email correspondence contained in the Justice Department files appears to show that American Express maintained a dedicated relationship manager, Natalia Molotkova, assigned specifically to Epstein’s account. These communications suggest Molotkova arranged such flights at Groff’s request.
The release of this testimony comes as part of ongoing congressional scrutiny into how major corporations may have facilitated Epstein’s criminal activities. The House Oversight Committee’s investigation focuses not only on the actions of Epstein’s employees but also on the role financial services companies played in enabling his operations.
Epstein died in federal custody in August 2019 while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges. His death was ruled a suicide. The case has continued to generate significant public interest, particularly regarding the extent of his network and the involvement of various individuals and institutions.
The testimony raises questions about corporate responsibility and due diligence in high-value client relationships. American Express has not been charged with any wrongdoing, though the company’s role in facilitating these travel arrangements has drawn congressional attention.
As this investigation continues, the American people deserve a full accounting of how Epstein operated his network and what safeguards, if any, existed to prevent the exploitation of vulnerable individuals. The facts, as they emerge through sworn testimony and documentary evidence, will ultimately determine what failures occurred and where responsibility lies.
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