Federal documents released in the Jeffrey Epstein case show billionaire retail magnate Les Wexner faced years of FBI scrutiny over his relationship with the convicted sex offender, as the 88-year-old prepares for a congressional deposition Wednesday in Ohio.
Wexner, the founder of L Brands and former owner of Victoria’s Secret, appears more than 1,000 times in Justice Department files related to Epstein. The documents reveal federal investigators repeatedly sought information about his decades-long association with Epstein, who died by suicide in 2019 while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges.
An FBI document from 2019 identified Wexner as a “secondary” co-conspirator but noted “there is limited evidence regarding his involvement,” according to CNN‘s review of the files. Another document shows Wexner was among nine people the FBI planned to approach following Epstein’s arrest.
“We are interested in knowing about his relationship with Epstein and his knowledge and observations of Epstein with [redacted] girls,” one FBI document stated.
Wexner has consistently denied any wrongdoing or knowledge of Epstein’s crimes.
The relationship between the two men began around 1986 when Epstein was introduced to Wexner as a financial adviser. By 1991, Wexner had given Epstein power of attorney, allowing him to manage his vast fortune with “virtually no oversight,” according to PBS NewsHour.
Wexner has said he severed ties with Epstein in 2007 after discovering the financier had stolen “vast sums” from him and his family. Documents show Epstein repaid $100 million to Wexner, thought to be just a portion of what was misappropriated.
The files contain various allegations about Wexner’s interactions with Epstein and young women. Virginia Giuffre, a prominent Epstein victim, claimed in court documents that Wexner was one of the men Epstein trafficked her to – an allegation Wexner has repeatedly denied, saying he never met Giuffre.
In a 2020 FBI intake form, an unidentified woman claimed she often saw Epstein with Wexner and alleged that “Wexner would have models who could not have been over 18 years old do private viewings for him and Epstein.” Wexner’s spokesperson has called this statement “false.”
The House Oversight Committee subpoenaed Wexner last month as part of its investigation into Epstein’s activities. Rep. Robert Garcia, the committee’s top Democrat, called the action an “enormous step forward” in following “the money to identify anyone that enabled Epstein’s horrific abuses.”
Wexner’s deposition comes amid increased scrutiny of the Department of Justice’s handling of the Epstein case. Rep. Thomas Massie recently accused the DOJ of trying to shield Wexner from accountability by redacting names in released documents, calling it a “cover-up” that “spans decades.”
FBI Director Kash Patel stated in September that there was “no credible information” Epstein had trafficked victims to other men. Attorney General Pam Bondi testified last week that investigators would “love” to hear from any additional victims.
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