Former L Brands CEO Les Wexner Denies Knowledge of Epstein Crimes in House Deposition

2026-02-20

The BareStory

The House Oversight Committee has released the full video testimony of Leslie Wexner, the 88-year-old former CEO of Victoria’s Secret, following a deposition regarding his relationship with Jeffrey Epstein. In the nearly five-hour session conducted in New Albany, Ohio, Wexner characterized his association with Epstein as strictly professional and maintained he was unaware of the late financier's criminal activities.

Wexner described himself as "naïve" and "foolish," claiming he was "conned" by Epstein, to whom he had granted power of attorney. He testified that he severed ties in 2007 after discovering Epstein had misappropriated funds, most of which were reportedly returned. During the proceedings, a microphone inadvertently captured Wexner’s lawyer jokingly telling his client he would "kill" him if he provided another long answer, a remark both men laughed off as the attorney urged conciseness.

Addressing specific allegations, Wexner categorically denied any knowledge of sexual abuse occurring at his properties, including a Manhattan townhouse sold to Epstein and a guesthouse on his Ohio estate. He testified that he never met accusers Maria Farmer or Virginia Giuffre and denied claims that he participated in sexual acts with women introduced by Epstein or Ghislaine Maxwell. Wexner noted that despite being named a co-conspirator in a 2019 FBI document, he has never been contacted by the Department of Justice regarding the matter.

Wexner also fielded questions regarding Donald Trump, stating that while Epstein would "name drop" the former president and portray him as a friend, Wexner did not believe the two were close. He confirmed both men attended Victoria's Secret fashion shows but dismissed this as coincidence. Following the deposition, Ranking Member Rep. Robert Garcia expressed skepticism regarding Wexner’s assertions of ignorance. Reports indicate that no Republican committee members attended the deposition.

Left Perspective

Challenging the Competence Defense
Exposing Two-Tiered Accountability
Condemning Partisan Disengagement

Right Perspective

Defending Procedural Due Process
Validating Economic Rationality
Dismissing Performative Oversight

Left Perspective

• Challenging the Competence Defense The Reformer views Wexner's self-description as "naïve" and "foolish" not as an admission of character weakness, but as a calculated shield of "weaponized incompetence." By claiming he was "conned" by Epstein to the point of granting power of attorney, Wexner attempts to decouple his massive financial authority from the moral responsibility of oversight. This camp argues that extreme wealth cannot legally insulate a CEO from the consequences of the company they choose to keep.

• Exposing Two-Tiered Accountability The revelation that Wexner was named a co-conspirator in a 2019 FBI document yet was never contacted by the Department of Justice serves as a scathing indictment of systemic inequality. The Reformer sees this lack of investigative follow-through as proof that elite status functions as a barrier against scrutiny that average citizens do not enjoy. The failure of federal law enforcement to even interview a named figure suggests an institutional reluctance to challenge entrenched power.

• Condemning Partisan Disengagement The Reformer interprets the total absence of Republican committee members as a dereliction of civic duty and a refusal to hold capital accountable. By treating the deposition as optional, the opposition signals that investigating the networks surrounding Epstein is secondary to political maneuvering. Rep. Garcia’s skepticism highlights the necessity of these hearings to pierce the silence of private settlements and non-disclosure agreements.

Right Perspective

• Defending Procedural Due Process The Traditionalist emphasizes that despite the allegations and the 2019 FBI document, the Department of Justice's decision not to contact Wexner suggests a lack of actionable criminal evidence. This camp prioritizes the presumption of innocence, viewing the deposition as a retrospective fishing expedition rather than a legal proceeding. Until formal charges are brought by competent authorities, Wexner’s denial of knowledge regarding abuse at his properties stands as the prevailing record.

• Validating Economic Rationality Wexner’s testimony that he severed ties in 2007 specifically due to misappropriated funds is viewed here as a coherent, market-driven decision rather than a cover-up. The Traditionalist argues that discovering a financial breach by a fiduciary is a rational, sufficient cause for termination, independent of social rumors. From this view, retrieving the stolen funds and ending the professional relationship satisfies the business owner's obligation to protect his assets.

• Dismissing Performative Oversight The Traditionalist views the absence of Republican members not as negligence, but as a rejection of legislative theater that lacks prosecutorial power. The captured "hot mic" moment, featuring a lawyer joking about "killing" his client for long answers, reinforces the perception of the deposition as an informal spectacle rather than a serious inquiry. This camp believes justice belongs in the courts, not in committee rooms where political actors like Rep. Garcia can cast doubt without the burden of legal proof.

How it may affect me

As a U.S. reader:

• You may observe increased public skepticism regarding the federal justice system as the lack of Department of Justice follow-up with a named co-conspirator fuels debate over whether wealth insulates individuals from standard investigative scrutiny.

• The proceedings may influence future standards for corporate accountability, specifically regarding whether high-profile executives can use claims of ignorance or incompetence to avoid liability for the actions of their associates.

• You will likely see continued partisan conflict over the legitimacy of government investigations, with one political faction treating such hearings as essential for transparency while the other dismisses them as performative theater lacking legal authority.

Former L Brands CEO Les Wexner Denies Knowledge of Epstein Crimes in House Deposition

The BareStory

Left Perspective

Right Perspective

How it may affect me

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