For nearly 20 years, Lesley Groff managed Epstein’s life—including his massage schedule. Today, she lives in a wealthy Connecticut town, largely untouched by the scandal that engulfed so many others. Tanya Lukyanova investigates.
Watch the Netflix series about Epstein: Filthy Rich. Swalwell is disgusting, Epstein was evil. The Epstein thread should never be let go. Bongino pretended he cared - and I'm sure he got bought out. There is SO much money wrapped around Epstein it will take an incredible effort for someone to break through. And they will be putting their life in danger.
Don't these people have better things to do other than gossip, the main diversion in small town USA? It brings a little excitement to their dull lives. Tanya-Move on!
This article bothers me. She is guilty of no crimes. She was removed from all those lawsuits. Why do these folks feel the need to punish her even more? I can only imagine the shame and guilt she feels, for not seeing what was going on. It was hidden from her. Leave her alone and focus on your own family. May she find peace and be given the grace that we all need. Peace be with you all.
If you liked this story, you'll love Hannah Arendt's "Eichmann in Jerusalem: A Report on the Banality of Evil." Leslie Groff seems to have had the same position as the person getting the trains loaded and traveling on time to the correct destinations, Germany, 1939 -1945.
@Michael Karg "If you liked this story, you'll love Hannah Arendt's "Eichmann in Jerusalem"
No, I think you're overreaching, Michael. There's nothing known about Epstein's behavior that comes anywhere even close to the evil perpetrated by Eichmann, i.e., active participation in genocide. Indeed, there's little to no evidence that I'm aware of to accuse Epstein of pedophilia (sexual attraction to pre-pubescent children). Now, an adult is not allowed to seduce a post-pubescent child (hebephilia), and it's considered worse than unseemly when adults get sexual with sexually mature minors (it's socially and legally intolerable in modern society), but that's not Eichmann territory, and it's a shame to even suggest that it is.
But you missed my point. My comparison was to Leslie Groff's position, not Epstein's. Eichmann's defense was he was only a bureaucrat doing his job - that was Groff's lawyer's defense of Groff, as well as her own defense. Epstein would be the Hitler, in the case.
I don't see needing "facts of guilt" so much as SHOWING facts and then judgements. This sounds like the extremely 'talented deceiver' J Epstein probably DID want to keep this 'assistant' separated from 'knowing.' AND bestowing immense perks and prestige to make the job SO appealing. Clearly, she was at the very least naive. But surrounded by lavish lifestyle people. The details of paying YOUNG girls CASH should have at least be a yellow light. Generosity?!!! Patterns add up. Maybe DELUSIONS do too. If she NOW doesn't see clues in hindsight - or after 2019 was it? - when, it looks like Epstein really poured on the persuasive "got you (keep you) in my corner (deception)" bribes. Lesley has to live with her past. She has to live with her children. We don't know her heart - then or now. It does depict a scenario of SOCIETAL STANDARDS DECAY which begs the question: how much of THAT can a society absorb without collapsing. I pray the EXPOSURE leads to spiritual/moral revival of a true kind.
How many times have we read about serial killers whose families, with whom they live and spend most every day, had no idea of the hideous crimes committed by the monster living with them. In Lesley's case, sounds like she came to work, got paid and treated well, had an arms length professional relationship as the person who kept his schedule, which included many famous politicians, money managers, and celebrities. It isn't as if he was hosting mob meetings with shady characters, and she scheduled and arranged these meetings.
Being naive is not a crime. As for underage, from my understanding some of the girls were in their late teens, not 6 or 7 year olds, or even 12 year olds. I think the offense for which he pled guilty was for a 17 year old girl. My grandma was married and had her first child when she was 16, married happily for 70 years after.
No, being naive is not a crime; I didn’t say it was. I do think this woman probably could have picked up on some glaring red flags. (We also live in a very different cultural moment than your grandmother did, when teenagers married and started families, so your anecdote, while nice, doesn’t really translate.)
I would say you might be a bit naive thinking teenagers don't start having sex when they are 16, though usually with other teenagers. If Epstein was charged with having sex with girls under 10, I'd think he should be shot. My daughters started dating at 16, but with other teens. I would agree with you about Groff if she was making appointments for Epstein to receive massage from girls 12 or under. Sometimes it is difficult to differentiate between girls 16 or 18. As for me, late starter in that regard, too shy, waited until 18 to date, and never with a girl under 18.
I’m not really sure what you’re saying here. All cool that this guy was sleeping with underage girls because some underage girls are sexually active?
At any rate, I’m not particularly interested in engaging in an internet argument. I just think that at best, this lady is woefully naive. At worst, she looked the other way knowing — or guessing — what was really going on. Neither looks that great on her, but she’s the one who has to live with that.
People can associate or not associate with whomever they wish. I do wonder, though, about the value of an article that is so long on innuendo of guilt and so short on facts of guilt.
"Innuendo" That's risable. The woman scheduled the fiend's haircuts... knew when he passed gas, scheduled his midday "massages".... why, she makes Ghilaine Maxwell look like a mere afterthought in the scandal. That's called a "smoking gun". And she oughtta turn it on herself.
It really is easy not to know when you have a job. You do what you are given to do and mind your own business. I worked in a law firm for ten years. It was taken down from the inside for making the lawyers bill for hours that did not exist. But who took it down? We all lost our jobs. Seven years later at a dinner I met a young lawyer who told me the story. Yes, there was a mole. It turned out to be a lawyer there I knew. His wife got hold of the time cards. Yes, she worked there. A hundred people, guilty and innocent lost their jobs. The owner lost his home and business. Was he honest? No........but did we really ever know the real story? No!
Our friend Matt Taibbi and his friends on a Racket podcast this week suggested it's Trump, much more than those you mentioned - I fear, and I've supported Trump to this day.
Hi, Mr. Karg. Call me a skeptic on Trump. I just don't see it. A guy from Queens whose wives have mostly been from Eastern Europe, where women are grownups.
Well, that's the thing, isn't it. As the Taibbi gang suggested, the "survivors" were grownups, one way or another. I hate to say it, but my 40 years as a Hollywood talent agent, "girls just want to have fun," the smart ones get paid for it.
Reading this makes me glad I don’t live in a snake pit like New Canaan. These people all need to get a real life.
I couldn’t even walk in New Canaan. Police would stop me for looking poor.
It's obvious that the hullabaloo over the Epstein files is just meant to distract us from the Swalwell files.
Watch the Netflix series about Epstein: Filthy Rich. Swalwell is disgusting, Epstein was evil. The Epstein thread should never be let go. Bongino pretended he cared - and I'm sure he got bought out. There is SO much money wrapped around Epstein it will take an incredible effort for someone to break through. And they will be putting their life in danger.
All true, but my comment was meant as a joke.
Don't these people have better things to do other than gossip, the main diversion in small town USA? It brings a little excitement to their dull lives. Tanya-Move on!
1. Being very good looking is never a hinderance.
2. Please don't compare what she did to anything involving Nazi Germany.
This article bothers me. She is guilty of no crimes. She was removed from all those lawsuits. Why do these folks feel the need to punish her even more? I can only imagine the shame and guilt she feels, for not seeing what was going on. It was hidden from her. Leave her alone and focus on your own family. May she find peace and be given the grace that we all need. Peace be with you all.
If you liked this story, you'll love Hannah Arendt's "Eichmann in Jerusalem: A Report on the Banality of Evil." Leslie Groff seems to have had the same position as the person getting the trains loaded and traveling on time to the correct destinations, Germany, 1939 -1945.
Hmmm, lets see....arranging massages is the same as loading Jews, gypsies and others into railway cars for extermination?
@Michael Karg "If you liked this story, you'll love Hannah Arendt's "Eichmann in Jerusalem"
No, I think you're overreaching, Michael. There's nothing known about Epstein's behavior that comes anywhere even close to the evil perpetrated by Eichmann, i.e., active participation in genocide. Indeed, there's little to no evidence that I'm aware of to accuse Epstein of pedophilia (sexual attraction to pre-pubescent children). Now, an adult is not allowed to seduce a post-pubescent child (hebephilia), and it's considered worse than unseemly when adults get sexual with sexually mature minors (it's socially and legally intolerable in modern society), but that's not Eichmann territory, and it's a shame to even suggest that it is.
But you missed my point. My comparison was to Leslie Groff's position, not Epstein's. Eichmann's defense was he was only a bureaucrat doing his job - that was Groff's lawyer's defense of Groff, as well as her own defense. Epstein would be the Hitler, in the case.
Wait, you think Karg is "overreaching" when comparing arranging massages to herding Jews (and others) into railway cars for extermination??
That might be the understatement of the year!
OH BOY Another Epstein story. Be still my beating heart.
Glad that God is a God of justice. May come after her death.
I don't see needing "facts of guilt" so much as SHOWING facts and then judgements. This sounds like the extremely 'talented deceiver' J Epstein probably DID want to keep this 'assistant' separated from 'knowing.' AND bestowing immense perks and prestige to make the job SO appealing. Clearly, she was at the very least naive. But surrounded by lavish lifestyle people. The details of paying YOUNG girls CASH should have at least be a yellow light. Generosity?!!! Patterns add up. Maybe DELUSIONS do too. If she NOW doesn't see clues in hindsight - or after 2019 was it? - when, it looks like Epstein really poured on the persuasive "got you (keep you) in my corner (deception)" bribes. Lesley has to live with her past. She has to live with her children. We don't know her heart - then or now. It does depict a scenario of SOCIETAL STANDARDS DECAY which begs the question: how much of THAT can a society absorb without collapsing. I pray the EXPOSURE leads to spiritual/moral revival of a true kind.
How many times have we read about serial killers whose families, with whom they live and spend most every day, had no idea of the hideous crimes committed by the monster living with them. In Lesley's case, sounds like she came to work, got paid and treated well, had an arms length professional relationship as the person who kept his schedule, which included many famous politicians, money managers, and celebrities. It isn't as if he was hosting mob meetings with shady characters, and she scheduled and arranged these meetings.
Paying underage girls in cash didn’t raise any alarm bells? At best, this woman is criminally naive.
Being naive is not a crime. As for underage, from my understanding some of the girls were in their late teens, not 6 or 7 year olds, or even 12 year olds. I think the offense for which he pled guilty was for a 17 year old girl. My grandma was married and had her first child when she was 16, married happily for 70 years after.
No, being naive is not a crime; I didn’t say it was. I do think this woman probably could have picked up on some glaring red flags. (We also live in a very different cultural moment than your grandmother did, when teenagers married and started families, so your anecdote, while nice, doesn’t really translate.)
I would say you might be a bit naive thinking teenagers don't start having sex when they are 16, though usually with other teenagers. If Epstein was charged with having sex with girls under 10, I'd think he should be shot. My daughters started dating at 16, but with other teens. I would agree with you about Groff if she was making appointments for Epstein to receive massage from girls 12 or under. Sometimes it is difficult to differentiate between girls 16 or 18. As for me, late starter in that regard, too shy, waited until 18 to date, and never with a girl under 18.
I’m not really sure what you’re saying here. All cool that this guy was sleeping with underage girls because some underage girls are sexually active?
At any rate, I’m not particularly interested in engaging in an internet argument. I just think that at best, this lady is woefully naive. At worst, she looked the other way knowing — or guessing — what was really going on. Neither looks that great on her, but she’s the one who has to live with that.
We now have a new crime. Guilt by association. 😳
Sounds a bit Stalinist to my ear
It's like THE INVASION OF THE BODY SNATCHERS. A society built on the Ten Commandments has been systematically replaced with demon-infested lizards.
I saw the original one as a kid in the 50s. Scared the crap out of me.
Enough Epstein! Please. No more.
People can associate or not associate with whomever they wish. I do wonder, though, about the value of an article that is so long on innuendo of guilt and so short on facts of guilt.
"Innuendo" That's risable. The woman scheduled the fiend's haircuts... knew when he passed gas, scheduled his midday "massages".... why, she makes Ghilaine Maxwell look like a mere afterthought in the scandal. That's called a "smoking gun". And she oughtta turn it on herself.
100%
It really is easy not to know when you have a job. You do what you are given to do and mind your own business. I worked in a law firm for ten years. It was taken down from the inside for making the lawyers bill for hours that did not exist. But who took it down? We all lost our jobs. Seven years later at a dinner I met a young lawyer who told me the story. Yes, there was a mole. It turned out to be a lawyer there I knew. His wife got hold of the time cards. Yes, she worked there. A hundred people, guilty and innocent lost their jobs. The owner lost his home and business. Was he honest? No........but did we really ever know the real story? No!
Before Groff first do Clinton, Gates and Reid Hoffmann.
Our friend Matt Taibbi and his friends on a Racket podcast this week suggested it's Trump, much more than those you mentioned - I fear, and I've supported Trump to this day.
Hi, Mr. Karg. Call me a skeptic on Trump. I just don't see it. A guy from Queens whose wives have mostly been from Eastern Europe, where women are grownups.
Well, that's the thing, isn't it. As the Taibbi gang suggested, the "survivors" were grownups, one way or another. I hate to say it, but my 40 years as a Hollywood talent agent, "girls just want to have fun," the smart ones get paid for it.
By the way, they also suggested, strongly, the "survivors" weren't. This thing could be a movie, if it weren't already all used up.