Les Wexner, the founder of Victoria’s Secret, shared with US House Democrats in Ohio on Tuesday that he fell victim to Jeffrey Epstein’s deceitful schemes.
Wexner firmly denied any awareness of Epstein’s involvement in sex trafficking activities.
In a written statement, Wexner described Epstein as a “con man,” emphasizing that although he was deceived, he has acted lawfully and has no secrets to conceal.
Expressing regret, Wexner stated that he wishes he had never crossed paths with Epstein, as noted in his introductory remarks.
Chairman and CEO of Victoria’s Secret parent L Brands Les Wexner tours the exhibit at the Wexner Center for the Arts in Columbus, Ohio, September 19, 2014
A man who appears to be Les Wexner, center, puts his arms around Jeffrey Epstein, left, and a person whose face has been redacted at a social gathering in this undated image. The image appeared in the page after Wexner’s handwritten note in a 2003 book celebrating Epstein’s 50th birthday.
Wexner’s name appears over a thousand times in the Epstein files, reflecting their extensive professional association.
Their relationship began when Epstein was introduced to Wexner through a mutual business contact around 1986.
It was an opportune time for Wexner´s finances. The Ohio business owner had grown a single Limited store in Columbus into a suite of 1980s mall staples: The Limited, Limited Express, Lane Bryant and Victoria´s Secret. Abercrombie & Fitch, Lerner, White Barn Candle Co. and others would follow.
Within a couple years, Wexner had turned over management of his vast fortune to Epstein. He gave his now-trusted associate his power of attorney in 1991, allowing Epstein to make investments and do business deals and to purchase property and help develop what would become the vast Wexner estate in then-rural New Albany, documents show.
Epstein had ‘excellent judgment and unusually high standards,’ Wexner told Vanity Fair in a 2003 interview, and he was ‘always a most loyal friend.’
In his letter to Congress, Wexner notes that he ‘completely and irrevocably cut ties with Epstein nearly twenty years ago’ when he ‘learned that he was an abuser, a crook, and a harasser.’
Wexner also added that he ‘never witnessed nor had any knowledge of Epstein’s criminal activity.’
‘I was never a participant nor co-conspirator in any of Epstein’s illegal activities. To my enormous embarrassment and regret, I, like many others, was duped by a world-class con man,’ he added in the letter.
Representative Yassamin Ansari, an Arizona Democrat, speaks during a press conference following the congressional deposition of Les Wexner in the Jefferey Epstein case, Wednesday, February 18, 2026, in New Albany, Ohio
Wexner gave Epstein power of attorney over his affairs and additionally provided the convicted pedophile with his New York City townhouse.
Wexner has never been charged with any crimes in connection with Epstein.
In one of the newly released documents, Epstein sent rough notes to himself about Wexner saying: ‘never ever, did anything without informing les’ and ‘I would never give him up.’ Another document, an apparent draft letter to Wexner, said the two ‘had `gang stuff´ for over 15 years’ and were mutually indebted to each other – as Wexner helped make Epstein rich and Epstein helped make Wexner richer.
A spokesperson for Wexner said he never received the letter.
‘It appears Epstein was furious that Mr. Wexner refused to meet with him years after Mr. Wexner terminated Epstein and cut off all ties with him following Mr. Wexner´s discovery of Epstein´s theft and criminal conduct,’ the spokesperson, Tom Davies, said. ‘The draft appears to fit a pattern of untrue, outlandish, and delusional statements made by Epstein in desperate attempts to perpetuate his lies and justify his misconduct.’
Congresswoman Yassamin Ansari told reporters Tuesday: ‘We have heard over and over again from these victims, the name of Les Wexner and the importance of following the money …
‘The real reason Jeffrey Epstein was able to get away with raping and abusing children, young women, boys, young men, for so many years was because of the vast amounts of money that he was able to acquire and that largely came from Les Wexner here in Ohio.’
Representative Jasmine Crockett, a fellow Democrat, also noted Wednesday that Wexner ‘was asked about Donald Trump and Epstein and whether or not they had been in the same room and what that looked like,’ the Billionaire noted that ‘he didn’t quite remember but he imagined that yes that possibly happened because he did remember that Donald Trump also would like to show up to the Victoria Secret runway shows.’
‘That was a little odd to him because Donald Trump was not engaged in fashion whatsoever,’ Crockett noted.
A source familiar with Tuesday’s depositions told the Daily Mail that Wexner would not describe Trump and Epstein as friends, and that he never had a conversation with Trump about Epstein or with Epstein about Trump.
