Ohio retail billionaire Les Wexner said in a statement before being questioned by members of the US House of Representatives that he saw the deposition as “an opportunity to set the record straight,” again denying knowledge of the abuses and crimes of his former financier, Jeffrey Epstein.
Wexner said in the statement that he had been the subject of “outrageous untrue statements and hurtful rumors, innuendo and speculation” for years because of his ties to the accused child sex trafficker.
“Let me state at the outset: I was naive, stupid and gullible to put any trust in Jeffrey Epstein. He was a con man. And while I was duped, I did nothing wrong and have nothing to hide,” Wexner said in his statement.
Wexner was ordered to testify about his ties to Epstein before the US House Oversight and Government Reform Committee on February 18. While Wexner was initially summoned to Washington, DC, for his testimony, committee members instead traveled to New Albany to question him.
Epstein worked as Wexner’s financial adviser for years before the retail magnate said he cut him off in 2007, though recently released emails show the two still corresponded in 2008.
Wexner’s statement reiterates that he “completely and irrevocably severed ties” with Epstein “almost 20 years ago” when Wexner learned of Epstein’s actions.
“Let me be very clear: I never witnessed or had any knowledge of Epstein’s criminal activity. I was never a participant or co-conspirator in any of Epstein’s illegal activities. To my enormous embarrassment and regret, I was duped, like so many others, by a world-class con artist,” Wexner said.
Wexner said in the statement that he did not socialize in Epstein’s circle, but Epstein would tell him about “famous acquaintances and important positions he held.”
Wexner also said he “would never have condoned” Epstein’s behavior.
“I’m the father of two girls, now women, and the thought of what he did hurts me,” Wexner said. “I have never seen or heard of Epstein being in the company of a minor girl.”
Wexner denies in the statement that he was ever on Epstein’s plane and said he visited Epstein’s island only once — when he stopped by with his wife, Abigail, and their children while the Wexners were on a cruise on their boat.
Wexner, the founder of L Brands, has been repeatedly mentioned as a potential Epstein “co-conspirator” in documents released by the Justice Department in recent weeks.
Portions of Wexner’s deposition detail how he became connected to Epstein in the 1980s after Epstein was suggested to him as a potential financial adviser and money manager. Wexner’s statement said he consulted with several people before hiring Epstein, who Wexner said was initially reluctant to accept as a client.
“During the first few years I knew him, Epstein offered me advice here and there, while explaining that giving individual financial advice was not his focus and refusing to accept compensation,” Wexner said. “He told me he was helping me as a favor. I didn’t realize that from the very beginning Epstein was condescending to gain my trust.”
Wexner’s representatives have repeatedly said she did not know about Eptein’s crimes before he ended his relationship with the sex offender.
“The Assistant US Attorney told Mr. Wexner’s legal counsel in 2019 that Mr. Wexner was neither a co-conspirator nor a target in any way. Mr. Wexner cooperated fully in providing background information about Epstein and was never contacted again,” a legal representative for Wexner told The Dispatch.
Although Wexner has never been charged with a crime, he is listed as a co-conspirator multiple times in the millions of files released by the Department of Justice. Rep. US Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Kentucky, asked the Justice Department to release documents explaining why.
In his statement, Wexner said Epstein told Abigail Wexner that the Florida charges against him were baseless and “fabricated” by an “overly aggressive police chief.”
Epstein told Abigail that she could handle the Wexner family’s personal finances if he was no longer available, the affidavit said. That’s when Wexner says the family learned of Epstein’s theft.
“Once I learned of his abusive behavior and theft from my family, I never spoke to Epstein again. Ever,” Wexner said.
Investigative reporter Max Filby can be reached by email at mfilby@dispatch.com. Find X at the handle @MaxFilby or on Facebook at @ReporterMaxFilby.
This article originally appeared on the Columbus Dispatch: Wexner says ‘I did nothing wrong’ in Epstein testimony to Congress