On Wednesday, February 18, 2026, Ohio billionaire Les Wexner sat for a closed-door congressional deposition, marking the latest chapter in a decades-long scrutiny of his ties to the late Jeffrey Epstein. The 88-year-old founder of the L Brands retail empire has faced renewed questioning following the recent release of unredacted Justice Department documents.
The relationship began in the late 1980s when Wexner, then looking for a new way to manage his ballooning retail fortune, was introduced to Epstein.
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By 1991, Wexner had granted Epstein full power of attorney, an extraordinary level of legal authority that allowed Epstein to sign checks, hire staff, and manage real estate on the billionaire’s behalf. During this period, Epstein operated out of a New York City townhouse owned by Wexner and was a frequent presence at Wexner’s estate in New Albany, Ohio.
New documents released by the DOJ have added layers of complexity to the public record. Among the files are internal FBI communications from 2019 that labeled Wexner as a “secondary co-conspirator” in the sex trafficking investigation, though agents noted there was “limited evidence” to support the designation.
Wexner has never been charged with a crime and has consistently maintained that he was entirely unaware of Epstein’s illegal activities.
In a three-page statement released ahead of his testimony this week, Wexner characterized himself as a victim of a “world-class con man.”
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He stated that he was “naive, foolish, and gullible” for trusting Epstein, asserting that the financier had carefully hidden his criminal life behind an “aura of legitimacy.”
Wexner claims he severed all ties with Epstein in 2007 after learning of a $47 million misappropriation of funds and Epstein’s initial arrest in Florida for soliciting a minor.
The deposition also touched upon newly unredacted correspondence, including a draft letter found in Epstein’s files referring to “gang stuff” and mutual debts between the two men.
Wexner’s legal team has dismissed these notes as “delusional statements” by a man trying to justify his own misconduct. Despite these rebuttals, the congressional inquiry continues to focus on how Epstein leveraged his association with Wexner to build his wealth and gain access to high-profile social and business circles.
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As the House Oversight Committee reviews the testimony, the focus remains on the structural and financial mechanics of their twenty-year partnership.
While Wexner maintains he has “nothing to hide,” the sheer volume of his name appearing in the “Epstein Files”—over 1,000 times—ensures that the history of this association remains a central point of interest for investigators and the public alike.
Correction: Les Wexner was not the founder of Victoria’s Secret. Wexner founded L Brands, which acquired Victoria’s Secret in 1982. Victoria’s Secret separated from L Brands in 2021 and is now an independent, publicly traded company.
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