Executive Summary
- American Express issued a statement regretting its relationship with Jeffrey Epstein after DOJ files revealed the use of its travel services.
- Documents show booking itineraries for women and girls traveling from Eastern Europe between 2012 and 2019.
- Emails indicate Epstein’s assistant, Lesley Groff, coordinated flights and visa inquiries using an AmEx Black Card.
- Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk announced a new investigation into potential local links to Epstein’s network.
NEW YORK — American Express has formally expressed regret regarding its past client relationship with the late financier Jeffrey Epstein following the release of hundreds of documents by the U.S. Department of Justice. The records, reviewed by CBS News, appear to indicate that Epstein utilized the credit card company’s travel agency services to coordinate international flights for numerous women and girls over a seven-year period.
According to the unsealed documents, the travel itineraries date from 2012 to 2019, a period following Epstein’s 2008 conviction in Florida on charges of procuring a minor for prostitution. The files suggest that Epstein’s executive assistant, Lesley Groff, acted as a primary point of contact, utilizing an invitation-only American Express “Black Card” to manage bookings. The itineraries show travel arrangements for women and girls flying to the United States and other locations from Eastern European countries, including Russia, Poland, Belarus, Latvia, and Ukraine.
In a statement provided to CBS News, an American Express spokesperson said, “American Express strongly condemns abuse, exploitation, and human trafficking. We take our legal and regulatory responsibilities seriously, including reporting suspicious activity.” The company confirmed that Epstein’s account was terminated following federal charges against him and stated, “We regret having him as a customer.”
Internal emails contained within the DOJ release detail the logistics of these movements. In a 2012 exchange involving Groff and Epstein’s former accountant Bella Klein, a dedicated “travel team” was reportedly established to track preferences. Subsequent communications from 2014 and 2017 reveal discussions regarding flight changes and visa requirements. In one instance, Groff reportedly noted that an American Express representative advised checking with the French consulate regarding a transit visa for a traveler flying from Moscow to Paris en route to Miami.
It is important to note that while the documents name associates such as Lesley Groff and Bella Klein, neither has been criminally charged in connection with Epstein’s alleged sex trafficking ring. Under the U.S. justice system, all individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
International Investigative Fallout
The disclosure of these specific travel patterns has prompted scrutiny beyond U.S. borders, raising questions about the intersection of global corporate services and illicit networks. The detailed flight logs have led to immediate governmental responses in Europe; Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk announced that his government would form a specialized team to investigate potential links between Polish criminal networks and the Epstein enterprise. This development highlights the expanding scope of the investigation, shifting focus from historical U.S. litigation to active inquiries into international trafficking corridors.
