Les Wexner Says He Was ‘Naive’ and ‘Conned’ by Jeffrey Epstein in Congressional Testimony

Published: 21 February 2026, The English Chronicle Desk, The English Chronicle Online

Retail magnate Les Wexner, the billionaire founder of L Brands and former owner of Victoria’s Secret, has told US lawmakers that he was “naive, foolish and gullible” and was “conned” by his longtime associate Jeffrey Epstein, the disgraced financier at the centre of a sprawling criminal network. Wexner’s testimony comes as the House Oversight and Reform Committee intensifies its investigation into Epstein’s connections with powerful figures.

In written testimony submitted ahead of a deposition, the 88‑year‑old said he placed trust in Epstein when he hired him in the 1980s to manage his finances, but later learned that Epstein was a “world‑class con man” who misused that trust for his own gain. Wexner maintained that he had “nothing to hide” and insisted he had no knowledge of Epstein’s sex trafficking crimes or involvement in abuse of girls and young women.

“I was naive, foolish and gullible to put any trust in Jeffrey Epstein,” Wexner said, adding that while he was “conned,” he did not participate in or condone Epstein’s criminal activities. He also said he severed ties with Epstein nearly two decades ago once he discovered misconduct and that Epstein had misappropriated large sums of money from his family.

Wexner described himself to lawmakers as a philanthropist and community leader who had tried to live ethically, and said he was testifying to “set the record straight” after years of speculation about his relationship with Epstein. He acknowledged that he once visited Epstein’s private island briefly with his family, but said he had no further contact with Epstein after cutting ties around 2007.

However, some Democratic lawmakers have expressed scepticism over his account given the long and financially close relationship the two men had. Representative Robert Garcia of California argued that Epstein’s wealth and influence were partly enabled by Wexner’s support and questioned whether the full extent of their ties has been disclosed.

Wexner’s testimony is part of a broader congressional effort to probe Epstein’s network of powerful associates after the release of thousands of pages of internal government documents. While Wexner has never been charged with wrongdoing, his name appears frequently in the files, and advocacy groups have urged further scrutiny of those linked to Epstein’s activities.

The English Chronicle will continue to follow this developing story as lawmakers press for more answers and other high‑profile figures are called to testify.

Read More At>>