Who Is Lesley Groff?

Lesley Groff is a more shadowy figure among the Epsein assistants named in the 2008 non prosecution agreement. Every indication is that, with an affluent and apparenty influential husband, she has been able to lawyer up and take advantage of the legal protections built around the Epstein enterprise followindg his arrests. She began working for him as an adult and does not appear to have been groomed or brought into his circle as a sex slave. Unlike many other Epstein associates, there's no indication she ever had a romantic relationiship with him. According to the Daily Beast,

Lesley Groff was another Epstein assistant who allegedly coordinated travel for young girls, often calling to schedule “massages.” Though not directly named in Monday’s [2019 Epstein] indictment, the 51-year-old has been previously named as one of Epstein’s three female assistants. According to a 2005 Chicago Tribune story about executive-assistant pay, Epstein divulged his assistants made about $200,000.

Groff's compensation went beyond that:

The accused trafficker told the business reporter that he bought Groff a Mercedes-Benz E320 to make her commuting easier after she had a child, and he paid for a full-time nanny so that she could keep working for him. “There is no way that I could lose Lesley to motherhood,” Epstein told the Times.

According to this source,

In a separate 2017 lawsuit, filed by an anonymous Jane Doe, it was claimed that Groff was part of a circle of female 'recruiters' close to Epstein.

'Groff coordinated schedules between Epstein and the various young females used for sex; made travel arrangements for the girls; tended to their living needs; and communicated with them in order to maintain their compliance with the rules of behavior imposed upon them by the enterprise,' the lawsuit said.

Groff's attorney Michael Bachner has denied the claims, saying: 'As an executive assistant to Epstein, Lesley worked as part of a professional staff that included in-house attorneys, accountants, an office manager and other office staff.

'Lesley's job included making appointments for Mr. Epstein as directed by him, taking his messages, and setting up high-level meetings with CEOs, business executives, scientists, politicians and celebrities.

'At no time during Lesley's employment with Epstein did she ever engage in any misconduct.'

This site says Groff, "now lives with her husband in a Connecticut town populated by hedge fund owners [New Canaan]".

. . . her spokesman said she was an executive secretary for the billionaire sex offender.

“After Epstein’s arrest, his attorneys set up a company (DKI LLC) to pay salaries and other overhead. Lesley considered herself to be an employee of Epstein until she resigned in 2019 but was simply being paid by the company set up by Indyke at Epstein’s direction or knowledge,” the spokesman added.

. . . Lesley Groff’s husband, Ike Groff, is a former hedge fund founder and works in real estate. It seems she has gone on and lived her life since the Epstein allegations emerged in Florida 2005. As many have.

Lesley Groff came into Jeffrey Epstein’s world in the late 90s as a personal assistant.

The Epstein victim's compensation fund has provided her legal cover as well.

Lesley Groff said Tuesday that the withdrawal of a Manhattan Supreme Court suit filed by Jennifer Araoz cleared her name.

“This is a true vindication for our client Lesley Groff who had no knowledge and no participation in any of these horrific crimes,” said Groff’s attorney Jon Whitcomb. “But as a wife and a mother, Lesley remains heartbroken for Jennifer and all of the victims.”

Araoz accused Epstein of abusing her at his E. 71st St. mansion in 2001 and 2002. The first time Araoz visited the perv’s $77 million townhouse as a freshman in high school, she waited to meet Epstein in Groff’s office, according to her suit. Her abusive “massages” of Epstein, which began when she was 14 years old, were often arranged by Groff, she claimed.

Araoz filed a claim in the out-of-court Epstein Victims Compensation Program. She accepted a settlement from the program, which required she withdraw her claims.

“Participation in the Victims’ Compensation Program requires permanent discontinuance of all legal actions against former employees of Jeffrey Epstein, including Ms. Groff,” Araoz attorney Eric Lerner said. “My client maintains the truth and veracity of all of the allegations in her pleadings.”

The overall puzzle for me with Groff is that she and her husband appear to be, at least on the surface, sophisticated and respectable people. Groff worked for Epstein at a high level for at least 20 years, by these accounts, and although she was well paid, it must have been very clear to her that hinky stuff was going on -- as best anyone can tell, Epstein's fortune was built on Ponzi schemes, embezzlement,and blackmail. The other assistants were more like upscale bimbos; Groff isn't in that league. What did she know?