FBI and U.S. Attorney’s Office Investigation Reveals Jeffrey Epstein’s Witness‑Tampering and Threats to Block Subpoenas in 2007

whatsoever” with the litigation in this case. See, e.g., Journal, Exhibit F, at 85 (Donald Trump); at 9 (Bill Clinton phone numbers listed under “Doug Bands”). | | Federal Investigation and Plea Agreement With Epstein 19. In approximately 2005, the FBI and the U.S. Attorney’s Office in the Southern . District of Florida learned of Epstein’s repeated sexual abuse of minor girls. They began a criminal investigation into federal offenses related to his crimes. See U.S. Attormey’s Pomayeendenes: Exhibit “Cc”. 20. At all relevant times Edwards has had a good faith basis to believe and did in fact believe that to avoid the Government learning about his abuse of minor girls, Epstein threatened his-employees and demanded that ey not cooperate with the government. Epstein's aggressive witha tampering was so severe that the United States Attorney's Office prepared negotiated lea agreements containing these charges. For example, in a September 18, 2007, email from AUSA Villafafia to Lefkowitz (attached hereto as Exhibit “H’), she attached the proposed plea agreement describing Epstein’s witness tampering as follows: "UNITED STATES vs. JEFFREY EPSTEIN PLEA PROFFER” On August 21, 2007, FBI Special Agents E. Nesbitt Kuyrkendall and Jason Richards traveled to the home of Leslie Groff to serve her with a federal grand jury subpoena with an investigation pending in the Southern District of Florida. Ms. Groff works as the personal assistant of the defendant. Ms. Groff began speaking with the agents and then excused herself to go upstairs to check on her sleeping child. While upstairs, Ms. Groff telephoned the defendant, Jeffrey Epstein, and informed him that the FBI agents were at her home. Mr. Epstein instructed Ms. Groff not to speak with the agents and reprimanded her for allowing them into her home. Mr. Epstein applied pressure to keep Ms. Groff from complying with the grand jury subpoenas that the agents had served upon her. In particular, Mr. Epstein warned Ms. Groff against turning over documents and electronic evidence responsive to the subpoena and pressured her to delay her 10 HOUSE_OVERSIGHT_013328