Les Wexner Testifies Before Congress on Ties to Jeffrey Epstein

Billionaire Les Wexner, the former CEO of Victoria’s Secret parent company L Brands, testified before the House Oversight Committee on Wednesday, February 18, 2026, regarding his past relationship with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Wexner maintained he was “conned” by Epstein but denied any wrongdoing, as part of the ongoing congressional investigation into Epstein’s crimes, and network.

Wexner Claims He Was “Duped”

In a prepared statement, Wexner characterized himself as “naïve, foolish, and gullible” for trusting Epstein. He stated he completely severed ties with Epstein nearly twenty years ago upon learning of his abusive behavior and criminal activities. “I have done nothing wrong and have nothing to hide,” Wexner asserted, adding that he “never witnessed nor had any knowledge of Epstein’s criminal activity.”

Committee Challenges Wexner’s Account

Representative Robert Garcia (D-Calif.), the top-ranking Democrat on the House Oversight Committee, publicly disputed Wexner’s claim of a limited personal relationship with Epstein. Garcia stated, “I do not believe when Mr. Wexner says that he did not have a personal relationship or a friendly relationship” with Epstein. He further criticized the Department of Justice for not contacting Wexner regarding the Epstein investigation, questioning, “What the hell is going on? That is shameful.”

Financial Ties and Epstein’s Rise

Wexner hired Epstein in 1991 to manage his finances. Reports indicate Epstein earned approximately $200 million from the arrangement The Guardian. Wexner likewise claimed Epstein misappropriated $46 million of his assets. The committee is investigating the extent to which Wexner’s support contributed to Epstein’s wealth and ability to commit crimes.

Broader Congressional Investigation

Wexner is one of several individuals subpoenaed by the House Oversight Committee as part of its investigation. Ghislaine Maxwell, currently serving a 20-year prison sentence for her role in Epstein’s crimes, invoked her Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination during her recent deposition, citing ongoing legal challenges to her conviction and a request for clemency from former President Trump CNBC. Bill and Hillary Clinton were also subpoenaed, with former President Clinton acknowledging past travel on Epstein’s airplane for humanitarian work but denying visits to Epstein’s private island.

The Epstein Files Transparency Act

The depositions are occurring following the passage of the Epstein Files Transparency Act in November of last year, which mandated the Department of Justice to release all investigative files related to Epstein within 30 days. While the DOJ has released millions of pages of documents, transparency advocates believe potentially millions more pages remain undisclosed The Guardian.

Key Takeaways

• Les Wexner testified he was “conned” by Jeffrey Epstein and denied any wrongdoing.
• House Democrats questioned the extent of Wexner’s relationship with Epstein.
• The investigation is part of a broader effort to uncover the full scope of Epstein’s crimes and network.
• The Epstein Files Transparency Act is driving the release of previously confidential documents.