WASHINGTON — Billionaire Les Wexner, the former CEO of Victoria’s Secret’s parent company, told House Democrats on Wednesday he was “duped by a world-class con man” – his longtime financial advisor, Jeffrey Epstein. The six-hour deposition, part of an ongoing investigation into Epstein’s crimes and the network that enabled them, offered Wexner a chance to address years of scrutiny surrounding his relationship with the convicted sex offender.
Watch Les Wexner’s full deposition in the video player above.
Wexner, 86, repeatedly denied any knowledge of Epstein’s criminal activity, asserting he was unaware of the abuse of young women and girls. He characterized their decades-long association as purely financial, claiming he was a victim of Epstein’s elaborate fraud. The deposition was prompted by recent Justice Department releases of Epstein-related documents that revealed further details about their connection, leading Democrats to subpoena Wexner for testimony.
The central claim of Wexner’s testimony, according to those present, was that he was unaware of the extent of Epstein’s crimes. He described himself as a philanthropist and community builder, stating he always strived “to live my life in an ethical manner in line with my moral compass,” according to a statement submitted to the committee. He expressed a desire to “set the record straight” regarding his ties to Epstein, a relationship that ended in 2007 when the Wexners discovered Epstein had been stealing from them.
Though, skepticism remains among some lawmakers. Representative Robert Garcia, a California Democrat who attended the deposition, voiced strong doubts about Wexner’s account. “There is no single person that was more involved in providing Jeffrey Epstein with the financial support to commit his crimes than Les Wexner,” Garcia told reporters following the proceeding.
Wexner’s name appears over 1,000 times in the Epstein files, a fact acknowledged by his spokesperson, who stated the frequency of mentions was not unexpected given the length and depth of their business relationship. While the appearance of his name in the documents does not imply guilt, it underscores the extent of their connection. Wexner has never been charged with any crimes related to Epstein’s activities.
The End of a Decades-Long Relationship
Leslie Herbert Wexner, born September 8, 1937, in Dayton, Ohio, is the co-founder and chair emeritus of Bath & Body Works, Inc., and has been a principal in Abercrombie & Fitch, Victoria’s Secret, and La Senza, according to Wikipedia. He initially hired Epstein as his financial manager in 1987, and Epstein’s firm quickly became reliant on Wexner as its primary client, according to reporting by Bloomberg. Epstein even operated his business from a house owned by Wexner, and at times, resided there.
The relationship soured in 2007 when Wexner discovered Epstein had been defrauding him. The details of the financial misconduct were not fully disclosed during Wednesday’s deposition, but Wexner emphasized the betrayal he felt upon learning of Epstein’s actions.
Allegations of Trafficking and Epstein’s Access
The deposition also addressed allegations made by Virginia Giuffre, a prominent victim of Epstein’s abuse, who claimed in court documents that Wexner was among the men to whom Epstein trafficked her. Wexner vehemently denied these allegations, testifying to his unwavering devotion to his wife of 33 years, Abigail.
The extent of Epstein’s access to powerful figures through his relationship with Wexner has been a central focus of the ongoing investigations. Epstein leveraged his connections to build a network of influential individuals, and the House Democrats’ inquiry seeks to understand the full scope of that network and the extent to which it facilitated his crimes.
Political Involvement and the Mega Group
Wexner’s political activities also came under scrutiny. He co-founded the Mega Group in 1991 with billionaire Charles Bronfman, a network of wealthy and influential businessmen who sought to influence U.S. Foreign policy in the Middle East, according to Wikipedia. The group reportedly employed consultant Frank Luntz to mobilize support for Israel and allegedly had contacts with Israeli intelligence agency Mossad.
Wexner’s political affiliations have evolved over time. He was a Republican before 2018 and has since become an Independent.
FBI Designation and Ongoing Scrutiny
On February 10, 2026, Representative Ro Khanna revealed that the FBI had designated Wexner as an unindicted co-conspirator in the Epstein case, a detail that adds another layer of complexity to the ongoing investigation. This designation suggests the FBI believes Wexner may have been involved in criminal activity related to Epstein, whereas he has not been formally charged.
Ranking member Rep. James Comer, a Kentucky Republican, stated that Wexner “answered every question asked of him” during the 6-hour proceeding. However, the Democrats on the panel continue to express concerns about the extent of Wexner’s knowledge and involvement in Epstein’s crimes.
The House Democrats’ investigation is ongoing, and further details are expected to emerge as they continue to review the Epstein files and interview witnesses. The next step in the process is a review of the deposition transcript and potential follow-up questions for Wexner.
This story will be updated as more information becomes available.
If you or someone you know has been affected by sexual assault, resources are available. You can contact the RAINN (Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network) National Sexual Assault Hotline at 800-656-HOPE, or visit their website at https://www.rainn.org.
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