Billionaire Les Wexner told House lawmakers he was naive and foolish for trusting Jeffrey Epstein, claiming the convicted sex offender stole vast sums from his family while serving as his financial adviser.

Billionaire Denies Knowledge of Crimes

The 88-year-old former Victoria’s Secret CEO testified before the House Oversight Committee in a closed-door deposition at his Ohio home. Wexner denied any knowledge of Epstein’s illegal activities and insisted he played no role in the sex trafficking operation. Democratic lawmakers accused the retail magnate of enabling Epstein’s crimes by granting him extensive control over his finances during their decades-long business relationship.

In his opening statement, Wexner described himself as a victim who was manipulated by a skilled conman. He acknowledged visiting Epstein’s private island briefly with his family but maintained the relationship was strictly professional. The billionaire said he severed ties with Epstein after child abuse allegations surfaced in Florida, and later discovered significant financial theft had occurred.

Congressional Investigation Intensifies

Only Democratic committee members attended the deposition, though Republican staff participated. Congressman Robert Garcia of California told reporters that Epstein’s wealth and criminal enterprise would not have existed without Wexner’s financial backing. The testimony comes amid renewed scrutiny following the release of thousands of documents related to the Epstein case.

Federal Investigation Background

A 2019 FBI document identified Wexner as a potential co-conspirator, though prosecutors never filed charges against him. Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche previously revealed that Wexner’s name appears thousands of times in federal case files. However, Wexner’s attorneys maintain he was considered an information source rather than a target and cooperated fully with federal investigators before contact ceased in 2019.