WASHINGTON — Ohio billionaire Les Wexner, founder of L Brands and longtime force behind Victoria’s Secret, was deposed Wednesday by the House Oversight Committee about his ties to the late financier Jeffrey Epstein.
Wexner, 88, acknowledged under oath that Epstein managed aspects of his finances and personal affairs for years but said he was unaware of any criminal activity. “I was duped by a world-class con man,” Wexner told lawmakers, describing Epstein’s influence as “deeply regrettable.”
The deposition marks the most direct congressional inquiry to date into how Epstein gained access to influential circles of business and politics through high-profile clients like Wexner. Committee members questioned Wexner about financial transfers and real estate transactions involving Epstein during the 1990s and early 2000s, when the two maintained close business ties.
Wexner said he severed contact with Epstein in 2007, shortly before Epstein faced charges for soliciting prostitution with a minor in Florida. “If I had understood what he was doing, I would have ended the relationship much sooner,” he testified.
Lawmakers leading the investigation did not immediately comment on next steps but indicated that the deposition would inform the committee’s broader review of Epstein’s network of associates and enablers.
Wexner, a native of Dayton and longtime Columbus resident, built a retail empire including Victoria’s Secret, Bath & Body Works, and The Limited. He retired from L Brands in 2020 amid renewed scrutiny over his relationship with Epstein.
