Filmed Deposition Shows Les Wexner Denied Knowledge Of Epstein's Crimes

Billionaire Les Wexner told members of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee he was duped by Jeffrey Epstein, according to a video recording the panel released Thursday of the sworn testimony Wexner delivered just one day before.

The former CEO of Victoria’s Secret and one-time Epstein client also insisted he severed ties with Epstein after learning of the sex trafficking allegations leveled against the late financier.

“As I look back at it, I was conned by the World Olympic, all-time con artist,” Wexner told investigators during the nearly five-hour back-and-forth. “As far as I was concerned, once we knew how bad he was, he was dead.”

Wexner was subpoenaed earlier by the Oversight Committee, which is conducting its own investigation into the Epstein matter. While he has not been charged in connection to Epstein’s crimes, he is now under additional scrutiny after being named as a potential secondary co-conspirator in materials released by the Justice Department in the Epstein case that have raised questions about the extent to which Wexner’s wealth facilitated Epstein’s crimes.

The memo also said there was “limited evidence regarding his involvement” and Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine, in an interview during POLITICO’s 2026 Governors Summit, defended Wexner, an Ohio resident.

"Barring some new information of something that he has done illegal, I don’t see that as a problem,” said DeWine.

Yet the committee’s decision to post Wexner’s full testimony on YouTube without delay comes as Republicans face renewed pressure to hold wealthy, powerful men accountable for enabling Epstein’s decades of sexual abuse — especially in the wake of Thursday’s arrest of former British prince Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, who has also been implicated in the files. The Trump Justice Department, in contrast, has yet to charge anyone in the Epstein case since the materials in its possession have been made public.

Democrats have also fixated on Epstein’s relationship with President Donald Trump, as the case has become a political quagmire for Trump — who maintains that the two men had a falling out years ago — and the GOP at large. Wexner told congressional investigators Wednesday that Epstein would “name-drop” people like Trump.

“He would say things like, I know President Clinton or I know the Pope, or I know God,” Wexner said. “It was that kind of name dropping.”

During his deposition Wednesday, which took place in Ohio, Wexner maintained that his interactions with Epstein were professional and he never saw the late financier as a friend. Wexner could not recall exactly the last time he was in contact with Epstein but said he broke things off around the time he found out about the sex crimes allegations.

He recalled calling Epstein in the 2000s about the accusations, saying he asked, “What the hell is this?” Wexner said Epstein replied that he was being “shaken down by a hooker,” and Wexner said he believed him.

He at times appeared incredulous at the revelations about Epstein, the former manager of his personal finances. At one point, Wexner was asked about reporting that about $20 million of stock and cash were contributed by Wexner’s charitable entities to one of Epstein’s charities.

“Effing shocked, I just — I’m appalled. I never heard that,” he said, appearing to look at someone who joined him for the testimony and added, “Did you know that?”

Wexner said he had briefly visited Epstein’s house in Palm Beach, at Epstein’s request, and saw Epstein’s ranch in New Mexico. He also visited Epstein’s island — the site of widespread abuse — with his family for a roughly hour-long visit, remembering it as a "pretty crummy island.” Wexner also sold a New York townhouse to Epstein.

Wexner also said he believed Epstein stole from others, too, to amass a larger degree of personal wealth, but that many benefactors could be reluctant to come forward because of potential embarrassment.

“Bank robbers don't rob one bank. That was just — there's more there. And I can understand why people like myself, who were robbed, don't want to be mentioned because they don't want to talk about it,” said Wexner. “They don't want to, you know, appear naive or dumb. I mean, when I look in the mirror, I know I see an honest person, but in this I was completely blind.

“If it was a movie, no one would believe it,” Wexner said. “I mean diabolical isn’t a big enough word … Bernie Madoff is a boyscout compared to Jeffrey.”

As for why he personally did not say anything at the time about his suspicions that Epstein was stealing from him, Wexner replied, “Running a public company for a long time, I’m not good at public relations or financial public relations ... I’m happy that today is happening because I want to help, and I would do everything I can to nail that son of a bitch.”