Billionaire businessman Les Wexner has told US lawmakers that he was deceived by Jeffrey Epstein, describing the disgraced financier as a skilled manipulator who exploited his trust during their long financial association. The statement came as newly released Justice Department records revived scrutiny of the decades-long relationship between the two men.
In testimony submitted to Congress, the 88-year-old founder of L Brands said he had no knowledge of Epstein’s criminal activities and denied any involvement in abuse allegations. Wexner told the House Oversight Committee that he had been “naive, foolish and gullible” in trusting Epstein, whom he characterised as a con man. He maintained that despite being misled, he had committed no wrongdoing and had nothing to conceal.
Lawmakers sought Wexner’s testimony after fresh document releases connected to Epstein’s investigations, with his name appearing frequently in the files due to their extensive financial dealings. The two first met in the mid-1980s as Wexner’s retail empire expanded, and within a few years Epstein was granted sweeping authority over Wexner’s finances. A 1991 power of attorney allowed Epstein to manage investments, conduct transactions and acquire properties linked to Wexner’s estate.
The relationship eventually deteriorated. Wexner has said he cut ties in 2007 after discovering that Epstein had misappropriated funds. According to investigative records cited in the documents, Epstein later repaid roughly $100 million, though this was believed to represent only part of the losses. Despite the split, records indicate limited communication continued, including an exchange following Epstein’s 2008 plea deal in Florida, by which time Wexner says Epstein no longer had access to his accounts.
Wexner told lawmakers he wanted to correct what he described as false rumours and speculation, emphasising his philanthropic work and longstanding public record. He has repeatedly denied allegations made in court filings by Epstein accuser Virginia Giuffre, who claimed she had been trafficked to him, stating he never met her and was unaware of Epstein’s abuse.
The renewed attention has intensified pressure from survivors and advocacy groups, some of whom argue that Wexner’s past association with Epstein warrants continued scrutiny. Legal proceedings linked to unrelated abuse cases at Ohio State University have also drawn his involvement into broader public debate, with a court ruling he could be required to testify because of his former role on the university’s board of trustees.
Although Wexner has never been charged with any crime connected to Epstein, the newly unsealed records have revived questions about how Epstein gained extraordinary financial control over one of America’s most prominent business figures. Wexner continues to insist that the central fact remains unchanged: he was deceived by Epstein and bears no responsibility for the financier’s crimes.
