Les Wexner told the House Committee that Jeffrey Epstein had ‘conned’ him

Ohio retail billionaire Les Wexner said in a statement before being questioned by members of the US House of Representatives that he saw the statement as an “opportunity to set the record straight”, again denying knowledge of misconduct and crimes by his former financier, Jeffrey Epstein.

Wexner said in the statement that he had been the subject of “defamatory false statements and damaging rumours, innuendo and speculation” for years because of his relationship with an accused child sex trafficker.

“Let me state from the beginning: I was naive, foolish and foolish to believe anything in Jeffrey Epstein. He was a corrupt man. And while I was Kannada, I have done nothing wrong and have nothing to hide,” Wexner said in his statement.

Wexner was ordered to testify about her relationship with Epstein before the U.S. House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform on February 18. When Wexner was summoned to Washington, D.C. for his testimony, committee members went to New Albany instead to question him.

Epstein worked as Wexner’s financial adviser for several years before the retail mogul cut him off in 2007, although recently released emails show correspondence still in 2008.

Wexner’s statement reiterates that his relationship with Epstein was “completely and irrevocably severed” “nearly 20 years ago” when Wexner learned of Epstein’s actions.

“Let me be clear: I never witnessed or had any knowledge of Epstein’s criminal activities. I was never a participant or co-conspirator in any of Epstein’s illegal activities. To my great shame and regret, I, like so many others, was defrauded by a world-class thief,” Wexner said.

Wexner said in the statement that he did not socialize in Epstein’s circle but that Epstein would tell him about “famous acquaintances and important positions he held.”

Wexner also said he would “never tolerate” Epstein’s conduct.

“I’m a father of two girls, now a woman, and the thought of what she did makes me sick,” Wexner said. “I have never seen or heard of Epstein being in the company of an underage girl.”

Wexner denied ever being 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 L Brand founder, has been repeatedly mentioned as a possible Epstein “co-conspirator” in documents released by the Justice Department in recent weeks.

Excerpts from Wexner’s statement detail how he connected with Epstein in the 1980s after Epstein suggested him as a potential financial advisor and money manager. Wexner’s statement said he consulted with several people before hiring Epstein, whom Wexner was initially reluctant to take on as a client.

“During the first few years I was acquainted with him, Epstein gave me advice here and there while explaining that giving personal financial advice was not his focus and would not refuse to accept compensation,” Wexner said. “He told me he was helping me as a favor. Little did I realize that from the beginning, Epstein was conspiring to win my trust.”

Wexner’s representatives have repeatedly said she had no knowledge of Aptin’s crimes before she ended her 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 by providing background information on Epstein and was never contacted again,” a legal representative for Wexner told The Dispatch.

While Wexner has never been charged with a crime, he is listed as a co-conspirator several times in millions of files released by the Justice Department. U.S. Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Kentucky, has demanded the Justice Department release documents explaining why.

In his deposition, Wexner said Epstein told Abigail Wexner that Florida’s allegations were baseless and “trumped up” by an “overly aggressive police chief.”

Epstein told Abigail that she could handle the Wexners’ personal finances if he was no longer available, the statement said. That’s when Wexner says the family learned of Epstein’s theft.

“Once I learned from my family about his abusive behavior and theft, I never spoke to Epstein again. Ever,” Wexner said.

Dispatch investigative reporter Max Filby can be reached by email at mfilby@dispatch.com. Find him on X at the handle @MaxFilby or on Facebook at @ReporterMaxFilby.

This article originally appeared in the Columbus Dispatch: Wexner says ‘I did nothing wrong’ in Epstein testimony to Congress.