Les Wexner, the former head of the Victoria’s Secret brand, stated that he has “done nothing wrong” and has “nothing to hide” as he testified on Wednesday before a congressional committee regarding his previous connections to Jeffrey Epstein.
Wexner is among several associates of Epstein who have been subpoenaed to provide testimony before the House oversight committee as part of their ongoing investigation into the late financier’s criminal activities.
In a statement prepared by his team, Wexner described himself as “naive, foolish, and gullible for placing any trust in Jeffrey Epstein”.
“I completely and irrevocably severed ties with Epstein nearly twenty years ago upon discovering that he was an abuser, a crook, and a liar,” he remarked.
Wexner, who engaged Epstein in 1991 to manage his finances, has maintained that he was unaware of Epstein’s abusive behavior during their professional relationship.
Reports from 2019 indicate that Wexner played a crucial role in Epstein’s financial success, with Epstein allegedly earning $200 million from their arrangement.
Les Wexner accuses Epstein of fraud
Wexner has stated that he severed ties with Epstein in 2007, prior to Epstein’s guilty plea to state-level prostitution charges in Florida in 2008, and claimed that Epstein “misappropriated” $46 million of his assets.
Wexner is also one of several individuals with close connections to Epstein who have received subpoenas from Congress.
On the other hand, Ghislaine Maxwell, currently serving a 20-year prison sentence for her role in trafficking underage girls for Epstein, declined to answer questions during her deposition last week.
Maxwell’s attorney, David Oscar Markus, stated that she invoked her right to remain silent due to her ongoing legal battle against her conviction and claimed that Maxwell “is ready to speak fully and honestly if granted clemency by President Trump”.
The oversight committee has also subpoenaed Bill and Hillary Clinton, who are scheduled to participate in closed-door depositions next week. The former president has publicly acknowledged that he flew on Epstein’s private jet.
