Quick Read
- Les Wexner, founder of L Brands and former Victoria’s Secret owner, is testifying before the House Oversight Committee today, February 18, 2026.
- Wexner was named a co-conspirator in a 2019 FBI document related to Jeffrey Epstein.
- He granted Epstein power of attorney over his finances and sold him a Manhattan townhouse, later an alleged abuse site.
- Wexner claims Epstein misappropriated vast sums of money from him and his family.
- He has not been criminally charged in connection with Epstein’s crimes.
OHIO (Azat TV) – Les Wexner, the billionaire founder of L Brands and former owner of Victoria’s Secret, is testifying before the House Oversight Committee today, Wednesday, February 18, 2026, as part of its ongoing investigation into the federal government’s handling of the Jeffrey Epstein case. Wexner, who was identified as a co-conspirator in a 2019 FBI document, is expected to provide crucial insights into how Epstein amassed his vast wealth before his death by suicide in 2019.
The deposition marks a significant development in the House’s probe, with committee staff and potentially some lawmakers traveling to Ohio to depose Wexner in his home state. A spokesperson for Mr. Wexner declined to comment on the proceedings or whether he would invoke his Fifth Amendment right. However, if he cooperates, his testimony could unlock key information regarding Epstein’s financial origins and connections.
Les Wexner’s Financial Ties to Jeffrey Epstein
Les Wexner, 88, built an empire through L Brands, which at various times included iconic brands like Victoria’s Secret, Bath & Body Works, Express, and Abercrombie & Fitch. He was also one of Jeffrey Epstein’s earliest and most prominent clients, granting Epstein power of attorney over his extensive finances. This close financial relationship extended to property, with Wexner selling his Manhattan townhouse to Epstein. This residence was later identified by federal authorities as a location where Epstein allegedly abused young women and girls.
Despite these connections, Mr. Wexner has never faced criminal charges in relation to Epstein’s crimes. In an August 7, 2019, letter to his Wexner Foundation charity, he detailed ending his relationship with Epstein after allegations first surfaced nearly two decades ago. In the letter, obtained by Fox News Digital, Wexner accused Epstein of significant financial misconduct: "As the allegations against Mr. Epstein in Florida were emerging, he vehemently denied them. But by early fall 2007, it was agreed that he should step back from the management of our personal finances. In that process, we discovered that he had misappropriated vast sums of money from me and my family." Wexner stated that he immediately severed ties with Epstein and was able to recover some of the misappropriated funds.
Broader House Oversight Investigation into Epstein
Mr. Wexner is the fourth individual to appear before the House Oversight Committee in its investigation into the Epstein scandal. Under the leadership of Chairman James Comer, R-Ky., the panel has previously taken depositions from high-profile figures. These include former Trump administration Attorney General Bill Barr and ex-Trump Labor Secretary Alex Acosta, who, as U.S. attorney in Florida, approved Epstein’s controversial 2008 non-prosecution agreement. Convicted Epstein accomplice Ghislaine Maxwell also provided a deposition, though it lasted less than an hour as she invoked her Fifth Amendment right, demanding clemency from then-President Donald Trump.
The committee’s probe aims to scrutinize the federal government’s handling of Epstein’s case over the years, seeking to understand potential failures or complicity that allowed his criminal activities to continue. Wexner’s unique position as both a former close associate and alleged victim of Epstein’s financial malfeasance makes his testimony particularly relevant to the committee’s objectives.
Les Wexner’s testimony represents a critical juncture for the House Oversight Committee, potentially illuminating the financial mechanisms and influential networks that enabled Jeffrey Epstein’s criminal enterprise for decades.