Billionaire Les Wexners role in enabling Jeffrey Epsteins career is scrutinized

US Billionaire Leslie Wexner Deposed by Lawmakers Over Ties to Jeffrey Epstein

Lawmakers from the House Oversight Committee have questioned billionaire Leslie Wexner about his relationship with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein in a closed-door session at his Ohio home. Wexner, 88, was subpoenaed by Democrats following the release of new documents related to Epstein’s case.

The latest tranche of documents, published on January 30, 2026, includes communications and financial records from federal investigations into Epstein. Wexner’s name appears in these files, both redacted and unredacted. In a statement, Wexner said he was “naive, foolish, and gullible” to trust Epstein, describing him as a “con man.”

Epstein cultivated relationships with business leaders, politicians, and academics over several decades. Central among them was Wexner, the founder of L Brands, which owns Victoria’s Secret, Bath & Body Works, and The Limited. Wexner granted Epstein full power of attorney in 1991, allowing him to sign checks, hire staff, borrow money, and buy or sell property on his behalf.

Newly released Justice Department records show how control of Wexner’s Manhattan townhouse was formalized through a structured transaction involving a $10m promissory note and a personal guaranty signed by Epstein. The documents also detail the mechanics of asset transfers between the two men, including a 1998 purchase and sale agreement.

Epstein served as a trustee of the Wexner Foundation and president of Wexner-affiliated property companies in the early 1990s. He later relocated his firm to the US Virgin Islands, positioning himself as an offshore financier. In 2003, Epstein was introduced to former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak by former Israeli President Shimon Peres at a large event in Washington.

The Wexner Foundation paid Barak approximately $2.3m for two commissioned research studies between 2004 and 2006. The foundation’s relationship with Epstein has shed light on how he embedded himself within Wexner’s financial and philanthropic world, transforming him from an obscure money manager into a figure of extraordinary wealth and influence.

Source: Al Jazeera