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Les Wexner Testifies Before Ohio Oversight Committee Amid New DOJ Epstein Files

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Deposition Scheduled and Wexner Agrees to Cooperate The 88‑year‑old former L Brands founder appeared before the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee in Ohio on February 19, 2026, after a Democratic‑led subpoena demanded his testimony [2][4]. He answered every question during a six‑hour closed‑door session and said he was “pleased to testify” to set the record straight [1]. Republican lawmakers were absent, though staff members attended [1].

Financial Ties Spanned Over Two Decades and Ended After Theft Wexner’s relationship with Epstein began in the mid‑1980s, with a power‑of‑attorney granted in 1991 that let Epstein manage investments and purchase property [2][4]. The partnership dissolved in 2007 when Wexner discovered Epstein stealing “vast sums,” after which Epstein was fired and later repaid roughly $100 million, according to Wexner’s attorneys [2]. Email correspondence continued into June 2008, shortly after Epstein’s 2008 plea deal [4].

Victims Cite New Records While Wexner Denies Involvement Virginia Giuffre and Maria Farmer have used the newly released Justice Department files to press for accountability and the removal of Wexner’s name from Ohio State University facilities [2][4]. Wexner maintains he never met Giuffre and calls himself “naïve, foolish and gullible,” denying any participation in Epstein’s sexual crimes [1][2]. He also alleges Epstein misappropriated family wealth, describing the financier as a conman who stole “vast sums” [1].

FBI and DOJ Files Show Ongoing, Limited Scrutiny A 2019 FBI document listed Wexner as a “secondary co‑conspirator” with limited evidence, and investigators subpoenaed him and his attorneys that year [3][1]. Deputy U.S. Attorney General Todd Blanche confirmed Wexner appeared thousands of times in the files but was treated as a cooperative source, not a target [1]. FBI Director Kash Patel testified there is “no credible information” linking Epstein’s trafficking to other men [3].

Political Pressure Intensifies Over Financial Backing Claims Rep. Robert Garcia told reporters that no one provided more financial support to Epstein than Wexner, emphasizing the magnitude of their monetary connection [2]. Rep. Thomas Massie accused the Justice Department of a decades‑long cover‑up, calling the co‑conspirator document “bigger than Watergate” [3]. Survivors and Ohio State alumni have secured a court order compelling Wexner’s testimony in a lawsuit seeking to strip his name from a campus football complex [4].

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Timeline

Mid‑1980s – Wexner begins a financial relationship with Jeffrey Epstein, establishing a connection that later expands into a deep personal and business partnership. [3]

1991 – Wexner grants Epstein power of attorney, allowing the financier to manage his investments and purchase property on his behalf, cementing Epstein’s control over Wexner’s assets. [3][4]

2007 – Wexner terminates the partnership after discovering Epstein had stolen from him, ending the formal financial arrangement but maintaining limited contact thereafter. [3][4]

June 2008 – Wexner emails Epstein following Epstein’s plea deal, indicating continued communication despite the earlier fallout. [3]

2019 – An FBI document lists Wexner as a “secondary co‑conspirator” with limited evidence, and the agency subpoens him and his attorneys for information about Epstein’s payments to minors. [1][2][4]

2019 – DOJ officials inform Wexner that he is “neither a co‑conspirator nor a target” in any investigation, a statement he repeats in later testimony. [2]

Feb 18, 2026 – The House Oversight and Reform Committee issues a subpoena and schedules a closed‑door deposition of Wexner in Ohio after the Justice Department releases new Epstein‑related files. [3][4]

Feb 18, 2026 – During the six‑hour testimony, Wexner describes himself as “naïve, foolish, and gullible,” denies any knowledge of Epstein’s sexual crimes, and says he is “pleased to testify” to set the record straight. [1][4]

Feb 18, 2026 – Rep. Robert Garcia tells reporters, “No one was more involved in providing Epstein with financial support for his crimes than Wexner,” emphasizing the magnitude of their monetary connection. [4]

Feb 18, 2026 – Rep. Thomas Massie accuses the Justice Department of a decades‑long cover‑up, calling the redacted “co‑conspirator” document “bigger than Watergate.” [2]

Feb 18, 2026 – FBI Director Kash Patel testifies that “no credible information” links Epstein’s trafficking to anyone else, underscoring the lack of evidence against Wexner. [2]

Feb 18, 2026 – Deputy US Attorney General Todd Blanche notes that Wexner’s name appears “thousands of times” in FBI files, but stresses he is a cooperative source, not a target. [1]

Feb 18, 2026 – Survivors and Ohio State University activists intensify calls to strip Wexner’s name from the campus football complex and medical center, linking his legacy to the broader abuse scandal. [4]

Feb 19, 2026 – Ranking member Rep. James Comer announces that a video and transcript of Wexner’s deposition will be released to the public, increasing transparency of the congressional probe. [4]

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