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Jeffrey Epstein’s office set a rule for its special team inside American Express: spending on trips for young women and others had to be kept a secret, even from his inner circle.
After a flight confirmation went out to multiple people in 2017, Epstein’s longtime assistant, Lesley Groff, sent a message to the relationship manager for his invite-only Black card, officially known as Centurion: “PLEASE HELP! Take ALL Email Addresses OUT of OUR ACCOUNT!!”
She explained that “Jeffrey was livid,” because he’s “EXTREMELY private” and “does not want ANY flight confirmations sent to anyone but me.”
For years, Epstein’s office relied on American Express to arrange trips not just for the disgraced financier, who’d pleaded guilty to procuring a minor for prostitution, but for dozens of women, often Eastern European. His Centurion relationship manager also booked and canceled trips that were never meant to be taken, a move aimed at helping the women obtain visas, according to emails released by the Department of Justice.
The documents offer a window into the uppermost tier of consumer finance, where the wealthiest clients are paired with dedicated handlers who anticipate needs and handle an array of requests. In the Centurion program, reserved for American Express’ biggest spenders, relationship managers play highly personalized roles as travel agents, problem solvers and door openers.