Les Wexner calls himself ‘foolish and gullible’ in Epstein testimony, but Democrats claim he enabled the empire

Billionaire Les Wexner testified before the House Oversight Committee that he was “conned” by Jeffrey Epstein and denied any role in the disgraced financier’s criminal enterprise. As reported by NBC News, the 88-year-old former Victoria’s Secret CEO said he was “duped by a world-class con man” and was not a co-conspirator.

Wexner’s deposition took place behind closed doors at his Ohio home in response to a congressional subpoena tied to the committee’s Epstein investigation. The session lasted about six hours, according to a committee spokeswoman.

In a prepared statement, Wexner said he had “done nothing wrong and has nothing to hide,” and that he never witnessed nor had knowledge of Epstein’s criminal activity. He said he cut ties with Epstein nearly 20 years ago after learning of his abusive conduct.

Lawmakers sharply questioned Wexner’s account of his ties to Epstein

Democratic members of the committee pushed back on Wexner’s characterization of their relationship. Representative Robert Garcia of California told reporters that Wexner was attempting to downplay how close he and Epstein were.

Garcia said there would have been no Epstein Island, no plane, and no financial backing for trafficking women and girls without Wexner’s support. Representative Stephen Lynch of Massachusetts said he believed Wexner knew about the misconduct and failed to stop it.

Epstein managed Wexner’s personal finances for more than a decade in the 1990s and early 2000s. An internal FBI document from August 2019, compiled shortly after Epstein’s death and later released by the Justice Department, referred to Wexner as a possible co-conspirator, though he has never been charged. The scrutiny has intensified amid the DOJ Epstein files poll attention on how federal agencies have handled disclosures.

Wexner described himself in testimony as a victim of deception, saying Epstein lived a double life and concealed his crimes. He said he permanently severed ties in 2007 after Epstein was charged with soliciting prostitution of a minor, and that his wife, Abigail, then began reviewing financial documents handled by Epstein.

According to Wexner, his wife discovered Epstein had stolen significant sums of money from their family. He said they revoked Epstein’s power of attorney, removed his access to bank accounts, and forced his resignation from affiliated entities in September 2007.

Documents released in January 2024 included allegations from Virginia Roberts Giuffre, who testified in 2016 that she was forced to have sex with Wexner multiple times. Wexner denied the claim, saying he has never cheated on his wife and called the allegation entirely false, as UN experts on Epstein files discussions have also focused on broader accountability and handling of records.

Wexner also recounted that he met Epstein in the mid to late 1980s after introductions through figures at Bear Stearns and a member of the Rothschild family. He said Epstein initially offered financial advice as a favor before taking him on as a client, which Wexner now believes was part of a calculated effort to gain his trust.

In a 2019 letter to the Wexner Foundation, he expressed sympathy for Epstein’s victims and regret over the association. His ties to Epstein continue to generate criticism, including calls from the Ohio Nurses’ Association to remove his name from Ohio State University’s Wexner Medical Center and other campus facilities he funded.