Les Wexner tells Congress he was 'naive' and 'conned' by Jeffrey Epstein

les wexner, the retired founder of a major retail empire, told a House committee on Wednesday that he had been "naive, foolish and gullible" in trusting Jeffrey Epstein and that Epstein stole "vast sums" from his family. The closed-door deposition came after a recent release of documents tied to Epstein and has renewed congressional scrutiny of Wexner's long association with the financier.

Les Wexner's opening statement

In an opening statement made public while the interview itself was private, Les Wexner said his relationship with Jeffrey Epstein was limited and that he denied any knowledge of Epstein's illegal conduct. He described Epstein as "a conman" and said, "while I was conned, I have done nothing wrong and have nothing to hide. " Wexner stated he had visited Epstein's private island for "a few hours" with his family and said he wanted "to set the record straight. " The 88-year-old also characterized parts of the relationship as having ended bitterly after discovering theft from his family.

Lawmakers' criticisms and who attended

Democratic members of the House Oversight Committee conducted the deposition and answered questions publicly after the session. Lawmakers pressed whether Wexner's support and financial arrangements with Epstein enabled the financier's rise, with one congressman stating that Epstein would not have become as wealthy or as connected without Wexner's support. Only Democratic lawmakers traveled to Wexner's home state to attend the interview in person; Republican members did not travel, though some Republican staff were present.

Wexner's account of financial ties

Wexner said he had given Epstein broad powers over his finances, at one point granting power of attorney which allowed Epstein to make investments, purchase property and assist with business matters. He told the committee that Epstein had stolen "vast sums" while acting as his financial adviser and that their relationship had included estate and investment dealings. Wexner denied any participation in Epstein's illegal conduct and said he had no knowledge of the abuse that later came to light.

Allegations, file mentions and public scrutiny

Wexner's name appears repeatedly in the documents released in connection with the wider Epstein investigation; the frequency of mentions in those files does not imply guilt, and Wexner has not been charged with criminal conduct. He has publicly disputed allegations including claims in court documents that he was among men to whom a victim was trafficked, saying suggestions to the contrary are "absolutely and entirely false. " His legal team said he answered questions honestly and stood by his denials.

What to watch next

The deposition is part of an ongoing congressional probe prompted by the release of new documents tied to Jeffrey Epstein. If lawmakers continue to review the released files and pursue additional witness interviews, further depositions or requests for documents could follow. For now, the committee has the publicly filed opening statement, private testimony behind closed doors, and differing statements from lawmakers about the implications of Wexner's role; uncertainty remains where testimony was not made public.

Key takeaways

• les wexner told the House committee he was "naive, foolish and gullible" and that Epstein stole "vast sums" from his family.
• Wexner denied knowledge of or participation in Epstein's illegal conduct and has not been charged with any crimes.
• The deposition follows recent document releases and could lead to further congressional review.