The billionaire retail magnate Les Wexner told members of the US Congress he had been “duped by a world-class con man”, his former financial adviser Jeffrey Epstein, while denying any knowledge of or involvement in Epstein’s abuse of girls and young women.
Today, billionaire Leslie Wexner told Congress he was “naïve” and “duped” by Jeffrey Epstein.
He says Epstein conned him, stole from his family, and carefully hid his crimes.
He insists he never saw abuse, never knew about minors, never flew on Epstein’s plane, and cut ties… pic.twitter.com/TXZjdfFOnI— Amber Woods @ Amber Speaks Up (@AmberWoods100) February 18, 2026
In a statement to the House Oversight and Reform Committee released before a six-hour interview, the 88-year-old founder of L Brands — whose retail empire included Victoria’s Secret and Abercrombie & Fitch — said he had been “naive, foolish and gullible” in trusting Epstein. “While I was conned, I have done nothing wrong and have nothing to hide,” he told lawmakers.
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The committee’s Democrats had subpoenaed Wexner following a fresh US Justice Department release of Epstein-related documents detailing their relationship. Representative Robert Garcia, who attended the interview, voiced scepticism, saying no individual was more central than Wexner in enabling Epstein financially.
Wexner also rejected allegations by Epstein accuser Virginia Giuffre that he was among men to whom she had been trafficked. He testified to unwavering fidelity to his wife Abigail, stating he had “never” been unfaithful and calling any suggestion otherwise “entirely false”.
Wexner’s name appears more than 1,000 times in the Epstein files, though he has never been charged with a crime. He said he met Epstein around 1986 through a business associate and later entrusted him with managing his fortune after Epstein gained his confidence.
He acknowledged visiting Epstein’s private Caribbean island once with his family but insisted he was not part of Epstein’s social circle. Epstein, he said, cultivated an “aura of legitimacy” by associating with powerful figures while concealing misconduct.
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However, newly released Justice Department records show Wexner emailed Epstein in 2008 after his Florida conviction for soliciting prostitution from a minor, expressing sympathy — contradicting Wexner’s claim he had cut ties in 2007.