Leslie Benzies, a longtime Grand Theft Auto veteran and former president of Rockstar North, has been pulled into fresh public scrutiny after his name appeared in newly surfaced, publicly accessible Epstein-related documents released through the U.S. Department of Justice.
The mention comes from a witness list compiled by Sarah Ransome, one of the women who has alleged abuse connected to Jeffrey Epstein. In that material, Ransome accuses Benzies of sexual assault. Ransome has previously brought legal action against Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell over sex trafficking claims, and she has also written about her experience in a memoir titled Silenced No More: Surviving My Journey to Hell and Back.
The same witness list also references Rockstar co-founder Sam Houser. However, the document does not accuse Houser of wrongdoing. Instead, it claims he was aware of alleged mistreatment Ransome says she experienced involving Benzies. As an example included in the allegation, Ransome said Benzies threw money at her in a way meant to humiliate her in public, and she stated Houser knew about that incident.
Benzies has denied the allegations. In a statement shared with Kotaku, he said the claims are false, described the relationship as consensual and lasting three months, and added that he never met Jeffrey Epstein, never visited Epstein’s island or properties, and never traveled on his plane. He also said any suggestion otherwise is misleading.
The spotlight on Benzies comes at a time when his current studio, Build a Rocket Boy, is already drawing attention for other reasons. Benzies co-founded the company, which recently launched its first title, MindsEye, a futuristic third-person shooter that has faced online speculation about development troubles and questions surrounding its launch.
The controversy escalated further when a YouTuber known as Cyber Boi posted a video titled “Leslie Benzies is in the Epstein Files” to the MindsEye Discord community. Not long after, Build a Rocket Boy co-CEO Mark Gerhard issued what he called a “formal cease and desist demand” to the creator through the same server. In that message, Gerhard accused the YouTuber of actions such as “media manipulation,” “espionage,” “sabotage,” and “interference targeting” against the studio. Cyber Boi later removed the video, citing concerns about potential escalated legal action.
It’s crucial to separate what’s being claimed from what has been proven. Although the allegation appears in released documents, it is not backed by a court ruling or a law enforcement finding in the information described here. As it stands, these remain allegations unless and until proven otherwise through appropriate legal processes.
All of this lands in a broader moment of intense attention on Rockstar and the people tied to its most valuable franchise. With Grand Theft Auto VI expected to be one of the biggest video game releases of 2026 and reportedly set for November 2026, nearly every detail around Rockstar and former key figures is being closely watched, amplified by constant online discussion and heightened interest from fans tracking any update they can find.
