American Express has expressed regret over maintaining Jeffrey Epstein as a client for years after newly released files linked the financier to travel bookings made through the company.
Hundreds of documents published by the U.S. Department of Justice and reviewed by CBS News suggest Epstein used Amex’s travel services to arrange international flights for multiple women or girls, primarily from Eastern Europe, whose identities were redacted.
A company spokesperson said American Express strongly condemns abuse, exploitation, and human trafficking and emphasized its commitment to legal and regulatory obligations, including reporting suspicious activity. The firm noted it closed Epstein’s account after federal charges were filed against him and said it continues to strengthen its internal controls.
Because names in the records are redacted, CBS News could not determine the exact number or ages of the women or girls involved. However, an examination of hundreds of itineraries indicates flights were booked to the United States and other destinations, largely from Russia, Poland, Belarus, Latvia, and Ukraine.
The bookings span at least seven years, from 2012 through 2019—before Epstein’s sex-trafficking arrest but after his 2008 conviction for offenses that included procuring a minor for prostitution.
Documents suggest Epstein’s longtime executive assistant, Lesley Groff, served as a key coordinator for the travel arrangements with Amex. Neither Groff nor former Epstein accountant Bella Klein has been criminally charged in connection with Epstein’s crimes.
Emails from 2012 appear to show that a dedicated travel account using an invitation-only Amex Black Card was established for Epstein. Multiple message exchanges indicate that flights were arranged for women or girls and that Amex was sometimes consulted on visa matters.
Anti-human-trafficking organizations, including the United Nations, have long warned that the global travel and hospitality sector can be exploited in sex-trafficking operations.
The newly revealed links between Eastern European women and Epstein have drawn heightened scrutiny from European officials. Earlier this month, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said Poland would form an analytical team to investigate whether Polish minors were abused through networks connected to Epstein.