FD-302 INTERVIEW SUMMARIES — MANHATTAN HOUSEHOLD STAFF July-August 2019
Following Epstein's arrest in July 2019, FBI agents from the SDNY conducted a series of interviews with current and former employees of the 9 East 71st Street residence. These FD-302 reports documented the accounts of housekeepers, maintenance workers, personal assistants, chefs, and other staff members who worked in the seven-story, 40-room Manhattan townhouse over a period spanning more than a decade.
STAFFING AND OPERATIONS: Staff members described a highly regimented household operation governed by detailed protocols. Employees reported that Epstein maintained a rotating staff of approximately 8 to 12 domestic workers at the Manhattan property, with additional security personnel. Staff schedules were coordinated through Epstein's executive assistant Lesley Groff and scheduler Sarah Kellen. Multiple employees described being instructed not to look Epstein in the eye, not to speak to him unless spoken to, and not to discuss anything they observed in the residence with anyone outside the household.
VISITOR OBSERVATIONS: Several staff members provided detailed accounts of the frequency and nature of visits by young women to the townhouse. Employees described young women arriving multiple times per day, often escorted upstairs to specific rooms. Staff members reported being instructed to prepare the massage room, which included laying out supplies and ensuring towels were available. After these visits, staff were responsible for cleaning the rooms and laundering linens. One employee described regularly finding evidence of sexual activity during cleanup.
Staff also described visits by prominent individuals from business, politics, academia, and entertainment, though the FBI redacted most names in the publicly released versions. Employees noted that Epstein kept meticulous scheduling records and that the household calendar tracked appointments, meals, and visits with precision.
GHISLAINE MAXWELL'S ROLE: Multiple staff members described Ghislaine Maxwell as a regular and authoritative presence at the Manhattan residence, particularly during the late 1990s and early 2000s. Employees characterized her as the primary organizer of Epstein's personal life and social calendar. Several staff members recalled Maxwell giving direct instructions regarding the preparation of rooms for visitors and the scheduling of young women. One employee described Maxwell as the person who "managed everything" related to Epstein's personal affairs.
SECURITY AND SURVEILLANCE: Staff members confirmed the existence of an extensive security camera system throughout the residence. Employees described monitors in a room where security footage from cameras in hallways, entrances, and common areas could be viewed. Some staff reported being told that certain areas of the house were monitored at all times. The security system was described as more elaborate than what would be expected for a private home, with one employee comparing it to a commercial security installation.
INSTRUCTIONS AND NON-DISCLOSURE: Multiple employees reported being required to sign non-disclosure agreements as a condition of employment. Staff described a culture of secrecy where asking questions about Epstein's activities or visitors was strictly prohibited. Some employees reported being told they would face legal consequences if they discussed anything they observed in the residence. This culture of silence was consistent with patterns described by staff at Epstein's other properties in Palm Beach, New Mexico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
CORROBORATION WITH VICTIM TESTIMONY: The staff interviews corroborated key elements of victim accounts, including the physical layout of rooms used for abuse, the scheduling patterns, the roles played by specific associates, and the methods used to bring young women into the residence. FBI analysts noted that the convergence between staff observations and victim statements across multiple interviews strengthened the evidentiary foundation of the case.