Lesley Groff, once a low-profile Connecticut resident, is thrust into the spotlight again after the release of unredacted Epstein documents from members of Congress.
According to documents recently released by the Department of Justice (U.S. Department of Justice), Grove’s name appears more than 150,000 times in the Epstein files, second only to Epstein himself.
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Epstein’s executive assistant: Leslie Grove
Grove lives in New Canaan and joined Epstein’s camp in the early 2000s. She served as Epstein’s administrative assistant for nearly two decades.
Grove kept a close eye on Epstein’s schedule, meetings and travels from 2001 until his death in a car accident. New York He was jailed in 2019 after being accused of trafficking hundreds of women and girls for sex.
Grove was the primary contact for anyone seeking to exploit Epstein’s connections. According to CT Insider, if they want to get on Epstein’s plane or need help with their children going to college, they have to go to Grove.
She oversaw Epstein’s personal and professional schedule, interacting with everyone from Woody Allen to Steve Bannon to Prince Andrew.
A federal lawyer wrote in the records, but their identities were redacted, “She was Epstein’s chief secretary and was responsible for handling travel logistics for Epstein, his staff and his travel victims. So it makes sense that her last name would have so many hits.”
Multiple civil lawsuits have also been filed against Groff over the years, some of which accuse her of facilitating Epstein’s abuse by arranging “massages” and arranging travel for victims.
However, these lawsuits are either dismissed or withdrawn, often as part of settlement agreements or requirements to participate in victim compensation programs.
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How did Groff become Epstein’s co-conspirator?
In 2008, Grove said in an interview with an FBI agent that she began working for Epstein in his New York office in February 2001.
After putting her resume on the Monster job site, she found the assistant position after interviewing Epstein and Maxwell. She previously worked as an event planner.
Groff, 58, often appeared in media reports alongside Sarah Kellen and Nadia Marcinkova, two former aides who victims say in lawsuits and depositions helped recruit. However, there is no evidence that Groff was a victim of Epstein like Karen and Marcenkova.
Epstein called his team of assistants, including Grove, “an extension of my brain,” and he paid them up to $200,000 a year. In addition, Grove has owned a $4.2 million home in New Canaan for more than a decade.
Epstein also volunteered to pay for full-time childcare and buy Grove a Mercedes-Benz when he considered quitting his job after giving birth. Epstein told The Times, “There was no way I was going to lose Leslie and become a mother.”
