WEBVTT 1 00:00:00.160 --> 00:00:03.000 What's up, everyone, and welcome to another episode of the 2 00:00:03.040 --> 00:00:06.559 Epstein Chronicles. In this episode, we're going to begin taking 3 00:00:06.559 --> 00:00:10.359 a look at Leslie Groff and the transcript from her 4 00:00:10.400 --> 00:00:13.679 appearance in front of Congress, and we're going to skip 5 00:00:13.720 --> 00:00:16.839 all the swearing in and talking about you know the 6 00:00:16.920 --> 00:00:19.719 rules of engagement, if you will, we all know those now, 7 00:00:20.199 --> 00:00:22.960 So we're going to start with Leslie Groff and our 8 00:00:23.000 --> 00:00:27.960 opening statement. Ms. Groff. Okay, good morning, Chairman, ranking member, 9 00:00:28.199 --> 00:00:31.039 and members of the Committee. My name is Leslie Groff. 10 00:00:31.640 --> 00:00:35.000 I have no experience in public speaking. I've never testified 11 00:00:35.000 --> 00:00:38.719 in court. I am introverted and shy, and this is 12 00:00:38.799 --> 00:00:41.520 petrifying to me. So I apologize to you if my 13 00:00:41.560 --> 00:00:45.479 responses are awkward. Still I'm here. I look forward to 14 00:00:45.520 --> 00:00:48.640 providing information to this committee voluntarily, just as I did 15 00:00:48.640 --> 00:00:52.600 in twenty twenty one when I spoke voluntarily with prosecutors 16 00:00:52.600 --> 00:00:54.840 in New York. I want to help you in any 17 00:00:54.840 --> 00:00:57.439 way that I can. I hope that it'll prevent this 18 00:00:57.520 --> 00:01:00.840 evil conduct from ever occurring again. I believe that my 19 00:01:00.920 --> 00:01:03.719 testimony will dispel the false notions that, because of my 20 00:01:03.799 --> 00:01:07.840 employment with Epstein, I must have knowingly enabled or conspired 21 00:01:07.879 --> 00:01:10.480 with them to commit these evil acts. Nothing could be 22 00:01:10.599 --> 00:01:14.840 further from the truth. Since mister Epstein's arrest in twenty nineteen, 23 00:01:15.200 --> 00:01:18.319 I struggle with sleep. I can't eat. Many of my 24 00:01:18.400 --> 00:01:22.280 friends and acquaintances have shunned me. For the last seven years, 25 00:01:22.560 --> 00:01:25.000 my now twenty one year old son's life has been 26 00:01:25.040 --> 00:01:28.680 in turmoil, and I've been the target of harassment and 27 00:01:28.799 --> 00:01:31.959 death threats. I've chosen to speak with you all to 28 00:01:32.000 --> 00:01:34.640 tell the truth as I know it. My recollection of 29 00:01:34.680 --> 00:01:37.680 many things is generally poor, since they occurred as far 30 00:01:37.719 --> 00:01:40.680 back as twenty five years ago. I'll try my very best, 31 00:01:40.879 --> 00:01:43.439 and I thank you for your patience. I want to 32 00:01:43.480 --> 00:01:46.120 say without any doubt that I have come to believe 33 00:01:46.159 --> 00:01:48.799 the man who employed me from February of two thousand 34 00:01:48.799 --> 00:01:52.040 and one through July of twenty nineteen was a monster. 35 00:01:53.040 --> 00:01:56.159 For eighteen years, I worked for Jekyl, but was never 36 00:01:56.200 --> 00:02:00.239 permitted to see the true mister Hyde. Mister Epstein was, 37 00:02:00.280 --> 00:02:04.319 in hindsight, a master manipulator and deceiver who separated his 38 00:02:04.400 --> 00:02:07.400 legitimate life from his secret life as an abuser, and 39 00:02:07.439 --> 00:02:10.599 made sure that as his secretary, those two worlds did 40 00:02:10.639 --> 00:02:14.560 not collide. I had every reason not excuse me. Had 41 00:02:14.560 --> 00:02:17.120 every reason not to tell me about his crimes. He 42 00:02:17.199 --> 00:02:19.960 had no leverage on me. I was not like Sarah Kellen, 43 00:02:20.120 --> 00:02:23.520 whose testimony just broke my heart. Sexually abused by Epstein. 44 00:02:24.080 --> 00:02:27.439 I didn't need the job. Our family was financially secure. 45 00:02:28.639 --> 00:02:31.520 Most importantly, I would have never sat silent if I 46 00:02:31.560 --> 00:02:35.319 knew of his crimes. Mister Epstein used me and intentionally 47 00:02:35.400 --> 00:02:38.680 kept me on the outside of his perverted life. He 48 00:02:38.719 --> 00:02:41.120 did not know me when I was hired. It was 49 00:02:41.159 --> 00:02:43.960 nonsensical for him to confide in me a total stranger, 50 00:02:44.240 --> 00:02:46.680 or allow me to learn that he was abusing women. 51 00:02:47.520 --> 00:02:49.680 Now let me tell you a little bit about myself. 52 00:02:49.919 --> 00:02:52.479 I was born in Dallas and raised in a Protestant 53 00:02:52.479 --> 00:02:56.280 home in Plano. I graduated from the University of Texas 54 00:02:56.280 --> 00:02:59.360 at Dallas. I moved to Jersey in ninety and married 55 00:02:59.360 --> 00:03:02.479 my first husband in ninety three. I worked at his 56 00:03:02.520 --> 00:03:06.879 office supply company. I then worked as a salesperson at Nordstrom's. 57 00:03:07.599 --> 00:03:11.240 After my divorce, I met my husband Ike. I decided 58 00:03:11.280 --> 00:03:13.400 I wanted it to be an event planner, so I 59 00:03:13.400 --> 00:03:16.800 posted my resume on monster dot Com. I was contacted 60 00:03:16.840 --> 00:03:20.560 by a headhunter about a job with the New York Knicks. Unfortunately, 61 00:03:20.560 --> 00:03:24.319 I missed the interview because of snowstorm in Manhattan. That 62 00:03:24.479 --> 00:03:27.240 same day. The headhunter asked if I was interested in 63 00:03:27.319 --> 00:03:31.000 working for a wealthy businessman as an administrative assistant to 64 00:03:31.120 --> 00:03:34.599 keep his very busy life organized. That same day I 65 00:03:34.680 --> 00:03:38.520 interviewed at the Helmsley Palace with Glenn Maxwell and then 66 00:03:38.560 --> 00:03:42.039 mister Epstein. They explained to me that i'd be with 67 00:03:42.080 --> 00:03:48.280 mister Epstein, his executive assistant secretary, organizing his calendar, making appointments, 68 00:03:48.759 --> 00:03:52.199 and dealing with his endless calls. I could tell this 69 00:03:52.280 --> 00:03:55.919 was an office environment that looked exciting, challenging, and attractive 70 00:03:55.960 --> 00:03:59.120 to me. About a week later, I accepted the job 71 00:03:59.319 --> 00:04:02.680 at a salary fifty thousand. From two thousand and one 72 00:04:02.719 --> 00:04:05.520 to two thousand and nine, I worked exclusively out of 73 00:04:05.520 --> 00:04:09.479 Helmsley Palace. When I began working for mister Epstein, I 74 00:04:09.520 --> 00:04:11.840 was thirty five years old. I was trained by Redacted, 75 00:04:11.879 --> 00:04:15.199 the woman I was replacing. Redacted explained that I would 76 00:04:15.240 --> 00:04:18.879 be inundated with calls, scheduling, and coordinating his staff to 77 00:04:18.920 --> 00:04:22.439 make sure that they've fulfilled his often demanding work requests. 78 00:04:22.480 --> 00:04:25.240 For example, making sure that he had reading glasses at 79 00:04:25.240 --> 00:04:28.160 every table at every one of his homes and offices, 80 00:04:28.680 --> 00:04:31.879 or sourcing very late in the day a dozen chocolate 81 00:04:31.920 --> 00:04:34.399 croissants made in New York to be delivered the Palm 82 00:04:34.480 --> 00:04:38.439 Beach by nine the next morning. Miss Maxwell redacted and 83 00:04:38.560 --> 00:04:41.600 other staff also told me that mister Epstein's day included 84 00:04:41.639 --> 00:04:45.399 a morning muffin, a private yoga lesson, and a massage 85 00:04:45.480 --> 00:04:49.160 for me. Many of his routines were luxuries, but everyone 86 00:04:49.199 --> 00:04:52.319 treated them as normal, and I was expected to arrange 87 00:04:52.360 --> 00:04:55.120 them as part of my job. I was astonished by 88 00:04:55.120 --> 00:04:59.439 the truly impressive people in his circle. Past presidents, military leaders, 89 00:04:59.680 --> 00:05:08.639 former politicians, foreign dignitaries, actors, musicians, scientists, authors, mathematicians, university professors, inventors, 90 00:05:08.800 --> 00:05:14.000 titans of business, models, fashion designers, and philanthropists. It was 91 00:05:14.040 --> 00:05:16.600 a world I had no experience with, and I was 92 00:05:16.639 --> 00:05:19.560 captivated by it. I actually felt lucky to have found 93 00:05:19.600 --> 00:05:22.920 such an amazing job. I was thrust into the lifestyle 94 00:05:23.160 --> 00:05:26.759 of the rich and famous. Mister Epstein's directive for a 95 00:05:26.800 --> 00:05:30.079 massage was just another small part of the elite world 96 00:05:30.360 --> 00:05:33.160 I was not from, and was a very small part 97 00:05:33.199 --> 00:05:35.959 of what was demanded from me on a daily basis. 98 00:05:37.000 --> 00:05:41.040 From day one, mister Epstein and Miss Maxwell established guardrails. 99 00:05:41.560 --> 00:05:43.560 They made it very clear to me that I was 100 00:05:43.639 --> 00:05:46.800 a replaceable employee. Maxwell and Epstein told me that I 101 00:05:46.879 --> 00:05:50.399 was never to associate with their friends or contacts or 102 00:05:50.439 --> 00:05:53.000 I'd be fired. The people I spoke with in my 103 00:05:53.120 --> 00:05:56.680 job were their friends and colleagues, not mine. Their business 104 00:05:56.759 --> 00:05:59.199 was none of my business, and not to forget it. 105 00:06:00.240 --> 00:06:03.680 If I messed up in an appointment, I could be fired. Frequently, 106 00:06:03.720 --> 00:06:06.279 mister Epstein yelled at me to the point of tears 107 00:06:06.600 --> 00:06:09.079 when I made an error with an appointment. He screamed 108 00:06:09.079 --> 00:06:11.759 that I ruined his day and that the time lost 109 00:06:11.759 --> 00:06:15.000 could never be replaced. I recalled that weeks after I 110 00:06:15.079 --> 00:06:17.959 was hired, one of mister Epstein's contacts invited me to 111 00:06:18.000 --> 00:06:20.879 attend a party with my husband in New York City. 112 00:06:21.600 --> 00:06:24.879 The next workday, Mister Epstein and Miss Maxwell, who were 113 00:06:24.879 --> 00:06:27.160 not at the party, somehow found out that I had attended, 114 00:06:27.360 --> 00:06:30.040 and they torched me. They told me I had crossed 115 00:06:30.040 --> 00:06:34.319 the line into his social life and I'd be fired instead. 116 00:06:34.399 --> 00:06:37.439 Mister Epstein put me on probation. He ordered me to 117 00:06:37.480 --> 00:06:41.240 completely separate myself from his personal world. In hindsight, I 118 00:06:41.240 --> 00:06:44.519 wish he had fired me. Since that time twenty five 119 00:06:44.600 --> 00:06:47.600 years ago, I've never socialized with mister Epstein or a 120 00:06:47.639 --> 00:06:51.120 Miss Maxwell. I've never been on his aeroplane. I've never 121 00:06:51.160 --> 00:06:54.240 been to one of his parties. I never visited him 122 00:06:54.279 --> 00:06:56.639 in jail after he was convicted in two thousand and 123 00:06:56.680 --> 00:07:00.160 eight or after he was arrested in twenty eighteen. I 124 00:07:00.199 --> 00:07:02.839 never accompanied him to Little Saint James or a Zoro ranch, 125 00:07:03.120 --> 00:07:05.759 or to his Pon Beach residents. In fact, in my 126 00:07:05.839 --> 00:07:08.800 eighteen years as his secretary, I've been to Little Saint 127 00:07:08.879 --> 00:07:12.439 James three times, once with my husband and twice for 128 00:07:12.560 --> 00:07:16.600 work to view construction projects. These visits were during the 129 00:07:16.680 --> 00:07:19.839 day and lasted only a couple hours. I stated as 130 00:07:19.920 --> 00:07:23.399 Paris Guest department once with my husband. Mister Epstein was 131 00:07:23.439 --> 00:07:25.920 not there. From two thousand and one to two thousand 132 00:07:25.959 --> 00:07:29.800 and nine, I worked exclusively at Helmsley Palace. When you 133 00:07:29.959 --> 00:07:32.879 entered the reception area, my office was located in the 134 00:07:32.879 --> 00:07:35.319 rear of the suite and I could not see who 135 00:07:35.399 --> 00:07:39.040 entered or exited. Visitors were able to enter and leave 136 00:07:39.279 --> 00:07:42.480 mister Epstein's office through a separate entrance without seeing them 137 00:07:42.839 --> 00:07:45.680 without me seeing them. In two thousand and nine, the 138 00:07:45.680 --> 00:07:49.319 offices moved to sixty sixth Street, then to five seventy 139 00:07:49.360 --> 00:07:52.800 five Lexington Avenue, and then around twenty thirteen to his 140 00:07:52.920 --> 00:07:56.720 mansion on seventy first Street. Not once did I see 141 00:07:56.800 --> 00:08:00.959 or hear anything illegal. Every morning mister Epstein called me 142 00:08:00.959 --> 00:08:03.800 at nine am with literally dozens of matters for me 143 00:08:03.839 --> 00:08:06.680 to complete that day. I had no free time. I 144 00:08:06.720 --> 00:08:09.639 went from task to task. I had two phones on 145 00:08:09.639 --> 00:08:13.079 my desk, ringing constantly. Almost daily, I made a massage 146 00:08:13.120 --> 00:08:16.800 appointment for mister Epstein. He provided me the name and 147 00:08:16.879 --> 00:08:19.720 telephone number of a massuse and I called her. These 148 00:08:19.720 --> 00:08:23.279 calls lasted literally a few seconds. Hi, this is Leslie 149 00:08:23.879 --> 00:08:26.240 calling for mister Epstein. Are you available for a massage? 150 00:08:26.279 --> 00:08:29.800 At four Sometimes massuses called the office and asked if 151 00:08:29.839 --> 00:08:33.879 mister Epstein wanted a massage. On occasion, mister Epstein directed 152 00:08:33.879 --> 00:08:37.159 me to arrange massages for his guests, both men and women, 153 00:08:37.519 --> 00:08:40.440 at hotels and spas. To me, a few minutes it 154 00:08:40.480 --> 00:08:43.519 took to arrange massages for mister Epstein were just part 155 00:08:43.559 --> 00:08:46.320 of his routine, like going to the gym. For some people. 156 00:08:47.519 --> 00:08:50.320 From two thousand and one, to about twenty thirteen. I 157 00:08:50.440 --> 00:08:52.720 never stepped foot in the mansion, nor have I ever 158 00:08:52.759 --> 00:08:55.799 been in the private quarters of his home, including one 159 00:08:55.840 --> 00:08:58.639 of the massage took place. I'd never seen photos of 160 00:08:58.720 --> 00:09:02.240 nude women there. From in or about two thousand and 161 00:09:02.240 --> 00:09:04.799 five to two thousand and seven, when I became pregnant 162 00:09:04.879 --> 00:09:07.320 and gave birth to my son, I was rarely at 163 00:09:07.320 --> 00:09:10.480 the office. I had a job sharing agreement with herdacted 164 00:09:10.960 --> 00:09:13.320 who had also just given birth, and I worked from 165 00:09:13.320 --> 00:09:15.639 home at least two days a week. I only came 166 00:09:15.679 --> 00:09:18.720 into the office on the rare occasion when mister Epstein 167 00:09:18.799 --> 00:09:22.159 was there. It's important for the committee to understand that, 168 00:09:22.279 --> 00:09:25.080 to my knowledge, I never met any of these messuses. 169 00:09:25.919 --> 00:09:28.720 None of these women or anyone else ever told me 170 00:09:28.799 --> 00:09:31.480 that they were miners or that they were sexually abused. 171 00:09:32.000 --> 00:09:34.759 Nothing I heard or saw led me to believe otherwise. 172 00:09:35.919 --> 00:09:39.159 Even Sarah Kellen, who courageously told this committee about her 173 00:09:39.200 --> 00:09:42.720 sexual abuse, confirmed that she never told me of her abuse, 174 00:09:42.759 --> 00:09:45.879 even though we spoke with each other. Finally, I wished 175 00:09:45.879 --> 00:09:48.879 to address why I did not leave Epstein's employ after 176 00:09:48.919 --> 00:09:51.320 his arrest in two thousand and eight. My experience in 177 00:09:51.320 --> 00:09:55.159 that regard was similar to Miss Kellen's than others like Sarah. 178 00:09:55.320 --> 00:09:58.120 It was not until some time after mister Epstein's conviction 179 00:09:58.519 --> 00:10:01.679 that I learned the government and mister Epstein's lawyers had 180 00:10:01.720 --> 00:10:05.440 included me and others in the non prosecution agreement as 181 00:10:05.480 --> 00:10:09.440 potential co conspirators. I'm not a conspirator, and I never 182 00:10:09.440 --> 00:10:12.879 would have agreed to that language. Their unilateral decision to 183 00:10:12.960 --> 00:10:16.519 label me as a potential conspirator remains my scarlet letter. 184 00:10:17.519 --> 00:10:20.200 After his arrest in two thousand and eight, Epstein lied 185 00:10:20.200 --> 00:10:22.799 to me and insisted that he had been blackmailed and 186 00:10:22.840 --> 00:10:26.120 set up. His attorney told me the same thing. He 187 00:10:26.279 --> 00:10:29.600 angrily said that the allegations against him were fake and 188 00:10:29.639 --> 00:10:32.600 he had no idea that the women he had contact 189 00:10:32.600 --> 00:10:35.759 with was a minor. It was a shakedown, he claimed 190 00:10:35.759 --> 00:10:38.519 for money. In my mind, there was a reason that 191 00:10:38.559 --> 00:10:43.120 he was treated so leniently by law enforcement for such 192 00:10:43.159 --> 00:10:46.720 a serious crime. Although I consider resigning, Epstein convinced me 193 00:10:46.759 --> 00:10:50.200 to remain. He played on my loyal nature. I actually 194 00:10:50.240 --> 00:10:52.799 believed that he had been set up. I believed that 195 00:10:52.879 --> 00:10:55.320 he could be kind and generous in caring because the 196 00:10:55.320 --> 00:10:58.120 way he often treated me and others. I know now 197 00:10:58.320 --> 00:11:01.200 that this kindness was a facade, ud and just part 198 00:11:01.200 --> 00:11:05.279 of his manipulation. I also saw the VIPs continue to 199 00:11:05.320 --> 00:11:09.240 surround Epstein after his conviction. I know now that everything 200 00:11:09.279 --> 00:11:13.480 he did was a scheme intended to protect himself members 201 00:11:13.519 --> 00:11:16.240 of the committee. My heart breaks for these women, I 202 00:11:16.279 --> 00:11:20.000 believe them. Words cannot express how badly I feel that 203 00:11:20.039 --> 00:11:22.519 I was employed by mister Epstein during the time he 204 00:11:22.559 --> 00:11:26.039 abused these women. I will live with that horrible feeling 205 00:11:26.200 --> 00:11:28.919 for the rest of my life. But what I cannot 206 00:11:29.159 --> 00:11:32.120 and should not live with are the false innuendos and 207 00:11:32.159 --> 00:11:36.120 accusations that I knowingly aided his evil conduct. And that's 208 00:11:36.120 --> 00:11:39.559 why I'm here today. Thank you. All right, folks, We're 209 00:11:39.559 --> 00:11:41.559 going to wrap up right here and in the next 210 00:11:41.559 --> 00:11:43.960 episode dealing with the topic, we're gonna pick up where 211 00:11:43.960 --> 00:11:46.840 we left off. All the information that goes with this 212 00:11:46.879 --> 00:11:50.799 episode can be found in the description box. What's up, everyone, 213 00:11:50.840 --> 00:11:55.000 and welcome to another episode of the Epstein Chronicles. In 214 00:11:55.039 --> 00:11:57.759 this episode, we're picking up where we left off with 215 00:11:57.879 --> 00:12:04.039 a Leslie Groff transcript from her interview with Congress Miss Toland. 216 00:12:04.159 --> 00:12:08.399 Thank you, mister Emmer. We've had another member joined. Can 217 00:12:08.519 --> 00:12:12.639 she please announce yourself for the record, Melanie Stansbury, New Mexico, 218 00:12:13.080 --> 00:12:17.080 first Congressional District. Mister Toland. The time reads ten twenty 219 00:12:17.600 --> 00:12:22.240 and the majority of time will begin now. The questions 220 00:12:22.240 --> 00:12:25.679 are being asked by Miss Tolan. Question. Thank you for 221 00:12:25.720 --> 00:12:29.080 appearing here today. We appreciate your assistance in the investigation. 222 00:12:29.679 --> 00:12:32.039 I'm going to go through a few background questions, some 223 00:12:32.159 --> 00:12:35.039 might be repetitive from your opening statement, just so the 224 00:12:35.080 --> 00:12:39.240 record is clear. Where were you born answer Dallas, Texas? Question? 225 00:12:39.879 --> 00:12:44.480 And what year were you born? Answer nineteen sixty six? Question? 226 00:12:44.879 --> 00:12:48.320 And can you briefly describe your professional career for the committee? 227 00:12:48.639 --> 00:12:52.840 Answer my professional career question? Yes, answer My first job 228 00:12:53.080 --> 00:12:56.360 question yes answer. My first job was when I was 229 00:12:56.399 --> 00:12:59.240 in fifth grade. I walk from elementary school to a 230 00:12:59.240 --> 00:13:02.200 little preschool to help my mother teach dance to little 231 00:13:02.200 --> 00:13:04.600 girls that worked there, not worked there, or went there. 232 00:13:05.200 --> 00:13:07.399 And then in seventh grade, I believe I started working 233 00:13:07.399 --> 00:13:10.080 for my father, who was an entrepreneur. He owned his 234 00:13:10.080 --> 00:13:13.159 own construction company, and my sister and I would stack 235 00:13:13.240 --> 00:13:15.960 bricks and scrape windows of the homes that he built. 236 00:13:16.720 --> 00:13:20.559 I also worked for Fridays as a hostess, and I 237 00:13:20.600 --> 00:13:23.080 taught dance. When I was in eleventh and twelfth grade, 238 00:13:23.399 --> 00:13:26.960 drank college. I worked at Chili's as a waitress, and 239 00:13:27.000 --> 00:13:29.519 then when I moved to New Jersey, I worked for 240 00:13:29.600 --> 00:13:32.519 my first husband in his office supply company. It was 241 00:13:32.559 --> 00:13:35.799 a commercial office supply company. I was there as a 242 00:13:35.840 --> 00:13:39.559 customer service rep. And then after that I worked for Nordstrooms. 243 00:13:39.720 --> 00:13:42.440 I sold men's clothing, and then after that I got 244 00:13:42.440 --> 00:13:45.440 the job with mister Epstein. Question and what year was 245 00:13:45.480 --> 00:13:48.799 at Answer? That was two thousand and one. Question and 246 00:13:48.840 --> 00:13:52.639 when did your employment with mister Epstein end? Answer twenty nineteen. 247 00:13:53.200 --> 00:13:56.600 Question and were you working the same position that entire time? 248 00:13:57.000 --> 00:14:01.480 Answer yes, question executive secretary? Is that yeah? Correct? Answer 249 00:14:01.799 --> 00:14:05.759 executive secretary. Question And were there any breaks in your 250 00:14:05.759 --> 00:14:08.519 employment or was it all the way through from two 251 00:14:08.559 --> 00:14:11.879 thousand and one to twenty nineteen? Answer? I meet no 252 00:14:11.919 --> 00:14:15.159 official breaks except when I was pregnant. I definitely want 253 00:14:15.200 --> 00:14:18.480 on maternity leave for about three or four months. Question 254 00:14:18.759 --> 00:14:22.080 And are you currently employed? Answer? I am not. Question 255 00:14:22.399 --> 00:14:25.200 do you currently receive any income? Answer? I do not. 256 00:14:26.320 --> 00:14:28.919 Question Tell me about the first time you interacted with 257 00:14:29.000 --> 00:14:32.519 Jeffrey Epstein. Answer that would be on the day I 258 00:14:32.559 --> 00:14:35.200 went for the interview. I first met, I believe, with 259 00:14:35.240 --> 00:14:38.679 Miss Maxwell's assistant, and then I met with Miss Maxwell. 260 00:14:39.399 --> 00:14:42.039 And then I met with mister Epstein in his office 261 00:14:42.320 --> 00:14:45.000 and he interviewed me. It was rather quick, maybe like 262 00:14:45.039 --> 00:14:48.639 ten minutes. I sat in front of his desk, and 263 00:14:48.720 --> 00:14:50.919 I noticed that the phone kept bringing and he would 264 00:14:50.919 --> 00:14:54.000 take the calls, speak briefly, and then hung up and 265 00:14:54.039 --> 00:14:57.559 then speak with me again. Question and this was also 266 00:14:57.600 --> 00:14:59.600 in two thousand and one. Do you recall the month 267 00:14:59.679 --> 00:15:02.279 or the day eight on that answer? I believe it 268 00:15:02.320 --> 00:15:06.279 was February, I believe. Question February two thousand and one. Answer, 269 00:15:06.399 --> 00:15:09.840 Uh huh, Emmer, we've had another member join. Can he 270 00:15:09.879 --> 00:15:15.320 please announce himself for the record. Andy Biggs Arizona Brignac 271 00:15:15.639 --> 00:15:20.039 ms Groff, who was redacted Miss Maxwell's assistant at the time, 272 00:15:20.519 --> 00:15:25.559 answers Leslie Groff questions by Miss Toland once again. Question 273 00:15:26.039 --> 00:15:29.039 and where did this interview take place? Again? Answer at 274 00:15:29.039 --> 00:15:32.240 four point fifty seven Madison Avenue. It was Helmsley Palace. 275 00:15:33.080 --> 00:15:36.120 Question and how did you receive the opportunity to get 276 00:15:36.120 --> 00:15:39.879 the interview? Answer right, So, a headhunter had called me 277 00:15:39.919 --> 00:15:42.240 for a position at the new York Knicks. He had 278 00:15:42.240 --> 00:15:45.279 found my resume on monster dot com. He had his 279 00:15:45.320 --> 00:15:48.840 own business, but unfortunately I couldn't get to the city 280 00:15:49.000 --> 00:15:51.080 when he wanted me to, and by the time I 281 00:15:51.120 --> 00:15:53.600 got in, the position for the New York Knicks was 282 00:15:53.639 --> 00:15:56.759 already taken. And once he met me, he consulted with 283 00:15:56.799 --> 00:15:59.039 some other people in the office and came back to 284 00:15:59.039 --> 00:16:01.679 me and said, you know, we might have another position 285 00:16:01.960 --> 00:16:05.000 if you're interested. It'd be working for one man who 286 00:16:05.080 --> 00:16:08.759 you know, you'd organize his life. He's a socialite, he's 287 00:16:08.759 --> 00:16:13.120 a businessman. It sounded, you know, exciting, and he asked 288 00:16:13.159 --> 00:16:15.279 me if I had time, that he would call this 289 00:16:15.360 --> 00:16:17.399 gentleman and see if I could actually go down for 290 00:16:17.440 --> 00:16:21.440 an interview that day, And amazingly he was available, and 291 00:16:21.519 --> 00:16:23.960 I actually walked up to the Helmsley Palace and that 292 00:16:24.120 --> 00:16:27.480 was the interview question. And you mentioned speaking with mister 293 00:16:27.519 --> 00:16:30.759 Epstein and he was taking calls. What was he like 294 00:16:30.840 --> 00:16:33.840 during the interview? Answer? He was very business like, I 295 00:16:33.879 --> 00:16:37.679 mean just business like and professional. Question And what did 296 00:16:37.720 --> 00:16:40.600 he ask you during the interview? Answer? Where I had 297 00:16:40.600 --> 00:16:43.440 worked before? So I let him know about the office 298 00:16:43.480 --> 00:16:47.519 supply company and Nordstrums because those were my most recent jobs. 299 00:16:48.039 --> 00:16:49.919 He asked me if I, you know, was able to 300 00:16:50.000 --> 00:16:52.679 use a computer, if I had worked on a computer before, 301 00:16:53.120 --> 00:16:55.360 and you know I could type, you know, things along 302 00:16:55.360 --> 00:16:59.080 those lines. Question do you recall any other discussions you 303 00:16:59.120 --> 00:17:01.799 may have had with them? Answer? It so long ago. 304 00:17:02.039 --> 00:17:04.920 I think it was all just very basic. Mister Emmer 305 00:17:05.000 --> 00:17:07.799 jumps in. We've had another member join. Can you please 306 00:17:07.839 --> 00:17:12.079 announce himself for the record, Congressman Stephen Lynch from Massachusetts 307 00:17:12.160 --> 00:17:18.319 A district back to Miss Toland asking questions question and 308 00:17:18.440 --> 00:17:21.200 did you also interview with Glenn Maxwell? Answer? I did 309 00:17:21.319 --> 00:17:24.599 her first. Yeah. Question and what was she like during 310 00:17:24.599 --> 00:17:27.920 the interview? Answer? She was professional, friendly, wanted to make 311 00:17:27.920 --> 00:17:31.000 sure kind of the same things. You know, could I 312 00:17:31.160 --> 00:17:33.920 use a computer or type? Was I okay with fast 313 00:17:33.920 --> 00:17:37.799 paced atmosphere? Wanted to know my background, you know. Question 314 00:17:37.880 --> 00:17:42.319 did she interview with anyone else besides Maxwell and Epstein? Answer? 315 00:17:42.599 --> 00:17:45.039 I did speak with redacted at the beginning, just a 316 00:17:45.039 --> 00:17:47.519 little bit, and it was probably more of the same. 317 00:17:48.200 --> 00:17:51.279 She probably just introduced herself to me and let me 318 00:17:51.319 --> 00:17:54.400 know a little bit about the office. Question and you 319 00:17:54.440 --> 00:17:57.759 said you became his assistant or executive secretary about a 320 00:17:57.799 --> 00:18:01.440 week later. Is that correct answer? Correct? Question? And did 321 00:18:01.480 --> 00:18:04.480 he offer you employment? Answer? I'm not sure if it 322 00:18:04.519 --> 00:18:07.759 was him or miss Maxwell who may have called it. 323 00:18:07.799 --> 00:18:10.680 Probably was Miss Maxwell. That seems to make more sense. 324 00:18:11.359 --> 00:18:14.799 Brignac was redacted leaving the office Groft. She was not. 325 00:18:15.279 --> 00:18:19.359 She left about a year later after I started, Miss Tolan, 326 00:18:20.039 --> 00:18:22.799 And you stated that your initial offer included a fifty 327 00:18:22.839 --> 00:18:26.440 thousand dollars salary. Is that correct? Answer? That's correct? Question? 328 00:18:26.720 --> 00:18:29.960 Were there any other benefits tied to the job, healthcare, housing, 329 00:18:30.000 --> 00:18:33.880 anything like that? Answer? I believe healthcare was also offered. Yes. 330 00:18:34.599 --> 00:18:38.319 Question anything else? Answer? Not at the time? Question and 331 00:18:38.400 --> 00:18:41.119 you mentioned this, I believe in your opening statement. But 332 00:18:41.240 --> 00:18:43.799 when you were given a job initially, were you aware 333 00:18:43.839 --> 00:18:47.759 that you'd be scheduling massages for mister Epstein? Answer? Not 334 00:18:47.880 --> 00:18:50.559 at the initial first when I first spoke to him 335 00:18:50.559 --> 00:18:53.759 about the interview, but after I started. Yes, that was 336 00:18:53.799 --> 00:18:56.759 one of the things that was definitely spoken about, that 337 00:18:56.839 --> 00:18:59.319 a massage would be part of his day, and it 338 00:18:59.359 --> 00:19:03.240 was all treated very normally. Question And who told you that? Answer? 339 00:19:03.240 --> 00:19:07.759 I believe it was Miss Maxwell redacted, probably redacted. It 340 00:19:07.880 --> 00:19:10.920 was just known in the office. Miss Brignac. And who 341 00:19:10.960 --> 00:19:13.759 is going to train you and how to schedule these massages? 342 00:19:13.920 --> 00:19:16.960 Were you told at the beginning? Graf? Yes, I was 343 00:19:16.960 --> 00:19:19.839 told at the beginning. I'm sure it was redacted and 344 00:19:19.960 --> 00:19:22.880 all of them, probably everybody took a hand in helping me. 345 00:19:23.000 --> 00:19:25.200 You know, there was a lot to learn. It was, 346 00:19:25.279 --> 00:19:27.599 you know, very fast paced, two phones on my desk, 347 00:19:27.880 --> 00:19:31.960 it was overwhelming, Brignac. Did you find anything about the 348 00:19:31.960 --> 00:19:35.359 massage scheduling to be odd when you first started, Groff? 349 00:19:35.640 --> 00:19:39.279 Absolutely not. It was just like any other appointment. It 350 00:19:39.359 --> 00:19:42.640 was like going to the gym. It was very normal. Timmins, 351 00:19:42.839 --> 00:19:45.680 did you schedule, sorry, did you ever schedule any of 352 00:19:45.720 --> 00:19:50.519 the other assistants for massages? Graf? No, Timmins, So everybody 353 00:19:50.519 --> 00:19:53.119 that you schedule for a massage seemed like they possibly 354 00:19:53.119 --> 00:19:57.240 were a massage therapist. Graf, I believe that. Yes. Back 355 00:19:57.279 --> 00:19:59.960 to Tolin and what did you know about mister Epstein 356 00:20:00.079 --> 00:20:03.400 prior to meeting him? Answer nothing, nothing. I wasn't even 357 00:20:03.440 --> 00:20:05.920 told who I was going to meet until I got there. 358 00:20:06.920 --> 00:20:11.200 Question had you heard anything about him? Answer no question. Well, 359 00:20:11.319 --> 00:20:15.680 next question, did anyone raise concerns about mister Epstein to you? Answer? 360 00:20:15.759 --> 00:20:20.359 No question? And what were your first impressions of mister Epstein. 361 00:20:21.240 --> 00:20:23.480 Answer that he was powerful. You know a lot of 362 00:20:23.519 --> 00:20:28.440 important people, professional business like super busy, stand offish. You know, 363 00:20:29.240 --> 00:20:32.920 we didn't have conversations. It was just about business and 364 00:20:32.960 --> 00:20:37.319 what he wanted accomplish that day. Did you immediately understand 365 00:20:37.359 --> 00:20:41.079 him to be wealthy? Answer yes? Question did you know 366 00:20:41.119 --> 00:20:44.160 how he acquired his money? Answer? I didn't know. I 367 00:20:44.160 --> 00:20:47.440 believed he was a money manager. Question how did you 368 00:20:47.480 --> 00:20:50.039 come to learn that? Answer? I think it was just 369 00:20:50.079 --> 00:20:54.559 talked about in the office with all the other administrative staff. Brinyako. 370 00:20:54.599 --> 00:20:57.119 When you accepted the job offer, What did you understand 371 00:20:57.119 --> 00:21:00.680 about the position? Groff? I believed he was a money manager, 372 00:21:00.960 --> 00:21:04.039 managed other people's money, Brignac. Was that told to you 373 00:21:04.079 --> 00:21:07.880 in the interview? Groth? I assume it was that he 374 00:21:07.960 --> 00:21:11.440 was a money manager. Tolan and how many clients did 375 00:21:11.440 --> 00:21:15.599 mister Epstein have during the period of your employment. Answer, well, 376 00:21:15.599 --> 00:21:17.759 it's hard for me to say. I definitely know his 377 00:21:17.839 --> 00:21:20.440 biggest client was Les Wexner, and then he had some 378 00:21:20.519 --> 00:21:23.640 other clients as well. Can you name them? Answer? Can 379 00:21:23.680 --> 00:21:25.880 I name them? I think it was Rothschild, you know, 380 00:21:25.960 --> 00:21:28.519 it was some other big names he talked to mord Zuckerman. 381 00:21:28.920 --> 00:21:31.319 I don't know if he was a client, nothing's coming 382 00:21:31.319 --> 00:21:35.319 to mind, but there were definitely important people calling. Question 383 00:21:35.400 --> 00:21:38.559 did you ever communicate directly with the clients? Answer just 384 00:21:38.599 --> 00:21:41.400 answering a phone call and passing the phone call through 385 00:21:41.440 --> 00:21:45.720 to mister Epstein. Question and were they frequent visitors to 386 00:21:45.799 --> 00:21:49.880 mister Epstein? Answered the business people question Yes, answer I 387 00:21:49.920 --> 00:21:53.720 wouldn't say frequent, every so often. Question and did you 388 00:21:53.720 --> 00:21:57.319 ever conduct any work for any of those individuals? Answer? 389 00:21:57.440 --> 00:22:01.119 No question. We're going to get in more specifics later, 390 00:22:01.480 --> 00:22:04.759 but for now, just some general questions. Can you briefly 391 00:22:04.799 --> 00:22:10.000 describe the extent of your relationship with mister Epstein? Answer? Sure, 392 00:22:10.079 --> 00:22:12.920 I would say the relationship is hardly a relationship. It 393 00:22:13.000 --> 00:22:15.880 was very very business professional. I was not close to 394 00:22:15.960 --> 00:22:18.880 him whatsoever, and I do believe that's exactly the way 395 00:22:18.880 --> 00:22:22.359 he wanted it. Mister Emmer, we've had another member join. 396 00:22:22.680 --> 00:22:27.319 Can she please announce herself for the record? Yasimin and sorry, 397 00:22:27.640 --> 00:22:32.759 Arizona's third district. Back to Brignac. Question the headhunter could 398 00:22:32.799 --> 00:22:35.000 tell you or tell us a bit more about how 399 00:22:35.000 --> 00:22:37.799 you came into contact with this person? Answer? Of course, 400 00:22:38.319 --> 00:22:40.440 he called me because he saw my resume on monster 401 00:22:40.519 --> 00:22:42.799