{"id":22109,"date":"2026-02-18T00:33:03","date_gmt":"2026-02-18T05:33:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/retail-mogul-wexner-faces-congressional-questions-over-epstein-ties\/"},"modified":"2026-02-18T00:33:03","modified_gmt":"2026-02-18T05:33:03","slug":"retail-mogul-wexner-faces-congressional-questions-over-epstein-ties","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/retail-mogul-wexner-faces-congressional-questions-over-epstein-ties\/","title":{"rendered":"Retail Mogul Wexner Faces Congressional Questions Over Epstein Ties"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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COLUMBUS, Ohio \u2014 Congressional investigators will question billionaire retail executive Les Wexner behind closed doors Wednesday about his controversial relationship with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, following the release of new Justice Department documents.<\/p>

The 88-year-old former L Brands founder has agreed to comply with a subpoena issued by House Oversight and Government Reform Committee Democrats.<\/p>

Wexner’s connection to Epstein has drawn scrutiny for years, given their extensive business relationship spanning decades. Court filings include allegations from prominent Epstein victim Virginia Giuffre, who claimed Wexner was among those to whom Epstein trafficked her.<\/p>

The retail magnate has repeatedly rejected any knowledge of or participation in Epstein’s criminal activities and states he never encountered Giuffre. Speaking to L Brands shareholders in 2019, Wexner expressed shame for his association with someone “so sick, so cunning, so depraved.”<\/p>

No criminal charges have been filed against Wexner, and the Justice Department documents indicate Epstein did not operate a sex trafficking network.<\/p>

The recently released files mention Wexner’s name over 1,000 times, which his representative described as unsurprising considering their lengthy partnership. These records provide fresh insights into their association, which concluded acrimoniously when Wexner and his spouse Abigail discovered Epstein had embezzled funds from them.<\/p>

The two men first crossed paths through a mutual business contact around 1986.<\/p>

This timing proved beneficial for Wexner’s financial interests. The successful Ohio entrepreneur had expanded from operating one Limited store in Columbus to controlling major retail brands of the 1980s mall era: The Limited, Limited Express, Lane Bryant and Victoria’s Secret. His empire later encompassed Abercrombie & Fitch, Lerner, White Barn Candle Co. and additional brands.<\/p>

By the late 1980s, Wexner had entrusted management of his substantial wealth to Epstein. Documentation reveals that in 1991, he granted Epstein power of attorney, enabling him to handle investments, conduct business transactions, acquire real estate, and help develop what became Wexner’s extensive New Albany, Ohio estate. Wednesday’s testimony will occur either at that location or in the vicinity, according to participating legislators.<\/p>

Speaking to Vanity Fair in 2003, Wexner praised Epstein’s “excellent judgment and unusually high standards,” calling him “always a most loyal friend.”<\/p>

Among the newly disclosed documents, Epstein wrote personal notes about Wexner stating: “never ever, did anything without informing les” and “I would never give him up.” Another document, appearing to be an unsent letter to Wexner, referenced their “gang stuff” spanning over 15 years and described their mutual dependence \u2014 with Wexner enriching Epstein while Epstein increased Wexner’s wealth.<\/p>

A Wexner representative confirmed he never received this correspondence.<\/p>

“It appears Epstein was furious that Mr. Wexner refused to meet with him years after Mr. Wexner terminated Epstein and cut off all ties with him following Mr. Wexner’s discovery of Epstein’s theft and criminal conduct,” spokesperson Tom Davies stated. “The draft appears to fit a pattern of untrue, outlandish, and delusional statements made by Epstein in desperate attempts to perpetuate his lies and justify his misconduct.”<\/p>

Wexner only disclosed publicly after Epstein’s July 2019 federal sex trafficking arrest that he had ended their relationship. In an August Wexner Foundation statement, he indicated this occurred in 2007. However, the newly released Justice Department records demonstrate continued communication beyond that date.<\/p>

On June 26, 2008, Wexner sent Epstein an email following announcement of a plea agreement requiring 18 months in Florida jail on state charges of soliciting prostitution from a minor to avoid federal prosecution. Epstein ultimately served 13 months.<\/p>

“Abigail told me the result\u2026 all I can say is I feel sorry. You violated your own number 1 rule\u2026always be careful,” Wexner wrote. Epstein responded: “no excuse.”<\/p>

Davies clarified that the 2007 date Wexner referenced in 2019 pertained to dismissing Epstein as financial advisor, canceling his power of attorney and removing his access to Wexner’s banking accounts.<\/p>

In his 2019 statement, Wexner also revealed that Epstein had stolen “vast sums” from his family’s fortune during his financial oversight role. An investigative memo from the recent document release indicates Wexner’s legal team informed investigators in 2008 that Epstein had returned $100 million, believed to represent only a fraction of the stolen amount.<\/p>

The document releases have empowered sexual assault survivors and intensified pressure on Wexner.<\/p>

Epstein survivor Maria Farmer expressed vindication following a redacted FBI report in the documents confirming she filed among the earliest complaints against Epstein.<\/p>

Despite the complaint documenting his possession of underage nude photographs, the records have renewed focus on Farmer’s disturbing account of an alleged forced sexual encounter with Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell during summer 1996 at Epstein’s New Albany residence. This property sat approximately half a mile from the Wexner family home. The Wexners maintain they remained unaware of Farmer’s allegations until media reports surfaced years later.<\/p>

Concurrently, survivors of another sexual predator \u2014 deceased Dr. Richard Strauss, a former Ohio State University team physician found to have sexually abused at least 177 male students over multiple years \u2014 are referencing Wexner’s Epstein connection in their effort to remove his name from a campus football facility funded by his donations. Their petition awaits review by a university committee. Davies declined to comment.<\/p>

The alumni group achieved a legal success last week when a district court judge ruled they can compel Wexner’s testimony in their lawsuit against the university. He served on Ohio State’s board of trustees during the period when Strauss, who died before his crimes were exposed, committed his offenses.<\/p>

Additionally, an Ohio State representative confirmed that Dr. Mark Landon, head of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, is cooperating with the school’s investigation regarding his mention in the Epstein files. Recent documents revealed Epstein retained Landon in 2006 for $25,000 quarterly.<\/p>

“I did not provide any clinical care for Jeffrey Epstein or any of his victims,” Landon stated. “I was a paid consultant for the New York Strategy Group regarding potential biotech investments from 2001 to 2005.” Davies indicated the consultation Epstein sought was conducted on the Wexners’ behalf.<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Billionaire Les Wexner will testify before Congress Wednesday about his relationship with Jeffrey Epstein following new document releases. The 88-year-old retail founder’s name appears over 1,000 times in recently released Justice Department files.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":22108,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[833],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-22109","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-politics"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/news-1771392782329.jpg?fit=1000%2C678&ssl=1","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/pbtNqq-5KB","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":22915,"url":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/victorias-secret-founder-admits-visiting-epstein-island-denies-criminal-knowledge\/","url_meta":{"origin":22109,"position":0},"title":"Victoria’s Secret Founder Admits Visiting Epstein Island, Denies Criminal Knowledge","author":"Admin","date":"February 18, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"Former Victoria's Secret CEO Leslie Wexner testified to Congress that he briefly visited Jeffrey Epstein's island but had no knowledge of the financier's crimes. 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Ohio State, Harvard, and other institutions are reviewing requests to strip names from medical centers, athletic facilities, and academic buildings.","rel":"","context":"In "U.S. News"","block_context":{"text":"U.S. News","link":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/category\/us-news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/news-1775130018394.jpg?fit=1000%2C666&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/news-1775130018394.jpg?fit=1000%2C666&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/news-1775130018394.jpg?fit=1000%2C666&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/news-1775130018394.jpg?fit=1000%2C666&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":34725,"url":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/house-panel-questions-epsteins-former-accountant-about-financial-empire\/","url_meta":{"origin":22109,"position":2},"title":"House Panel Questions Epstein’s Former Accountant About Financial Empire","author":"Admin","date":"March 11, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"Congressional investigators questioned Jeffrey Epstein's longtime accountant Richard Kahn in a closed-door session about the disgraced financier's vast wealth and connections to powerful figures. 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