Congress discussing affidavits from Epstein survivors about Lesley Groff as survivors told CNN she lied

The House Oversight Committee discussed with Jeffrey Epstein survivors the possibility of women deposing about longtime Epstein assistant Lesley Groff; This comes on the heels of multiple survivors telling CNN that Groff lied to the committee last month.

Ongoing conversations between the committee and Epstein survivors were confirmed to CNN by three sources familiar with the matter and were not previously reported. An Epstein survivor and two family members of another victim also told CNN that they were asked by the committee to comb through the transcript of Groff’s interview with the panel and alert the committee if anything appeared problematic.

“We need affidavits, affidavits,” House Auditor James Comer told CNN’s Jake Tapper on The Lead. “We’re trying to do this the same way any court in America would do it.”

These developments signal that the committee is taking the revelations about Epstein survivors seriously and is preparing to hold Groff accountable if he is found to have lied to Congress. Lying to Congress is a crime, although it is unclear what additional steps the committee may ultimately take regarding Groff. Committee investigators are also reviewing Groff’s testimony and references in the Epstein files to try to determine whether Groff is truthful.

Comer said that after each witness interview, his panel worked with victims of Epstein’s abuse to verify details or point out anything that might not be true.

“After we question them, we give the victims the transcripts and let them go over them and ask, ‘Did you see anything that you don’t think is right?’ we say. And if they say that, then we go back and investigate to see if they lied to Congress, because if they lie to Congress, that’s a felony, and that means a criminal referral to the Department of Justice. “And again, this is all part of accountability, and that’s the only way Congress can hold anyone accountable,” he said.

“Lesley stands by her statement,” Groff’s attorney, Michael Bachner, told CNN after this story was published. He did not respond to CNN’s previous request for comment about what the survivors said about his interview with Congress.

Groff worked for Epstein for nearly two decades, managing every detail of Epstein’s daily schedule, ensuring that his interview session with the House Oversight Committee in June became a key part of Congress’ ongoing investigation into Epstein. He has denied any knowledge of Epstein’s crimes and told MPs last month that he was duped by a “master manipulator and deceiver”.

But the release of the interview transcript sparked outrage from Epstein survivors. CNN survivors reportedly took matters into their own hands Along with some of Groff’s notable claims, including his insistence that he never met any of the girls and women he arranged for Epstein to massage.

Six Epstein survivors previously told CNN They met Groff in person and were horrified to learn of Groff’s denial.

Lara Blume McGee, who said she met Epstein as an aspiring model and was harassed from 2001 to 2003, said she remembered meeting Groff at his home at least twice, while Lisa Phillips, who said she was in her early 20s when she first met Epstein, told CNN: “Of course, I met him in person.”

Groff also repeatedly told lawmakers that he never asked or knew the ages of the girls and young women who came to see Epstein, including the fact that some were underage. He also said he was never aware that some of them came from local high schools.

Marina Lacerda, an Epstein survivor, told CNN that Groff regularly asked detailed questions about new girls Lacerda planned to bring to Epstein, and that Groff was so sensitive about Epstein’s predilection for teenage girls that she began asking Lacerda to tell her friends to bring their school IDs to their sessions with Epstein.

“‘What does the girl look like? Where is she from? How old is she?’ he would ask. on the phone,” Lacerda said.

Another survivor, Sharlene Rochard, said it was impossible for Groff not to know his age because she had Rochard’s passport information to plan the trip. “Of course he knew how old we were because he had to look at our IDs to book our flight,” Rochard said.

An anonymous woman said she, too, was “100 percent” sure Groff knew she was underage. “I went to a private Catholic school and he would always ask me to leave school early,” he said. Epstein said he liked seeing him in his school uniform, and Groff had seen him in uniform many times.

Survivors said Groff was also not telling the truth when he said he never made direct payments to the girls and women; Some described receiving fresh cash in white envelopes from Groff throughout the years of abuse.

Lacedra, who said she was shy of turning 14 when she first met Epstein, told CNN on Wednesday that she would be happy to make a statement about Groff to the oversight committee.

The committee did not comment for this story. A spokesperson for the committee had previously told CNN that the committee was “currently reviewing Ms. Groff’s transcript against existing evidence.” He added: “We would welcome any additional evidence from anyone with information.”

This story has been updated with additional information.

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