Billionaire Les Wexner tells US lawmakers he was 'naive' and 'conned' by Epstein

February 19, 2026

Les Wexner, the billionaire former Victoria's Secret CEO, testified before a House committee investigating his relationship with Jeffrey Epstein, calling himself naive and foolish for trusting the convicted sex offender who worked as his financial adviser. Wexner denied any knowledge of Epstein's crimes and maintained he was a victim himself, claiming Epstein stole large amounts of money from his family during their decades-long business relationship that began in the 1980s. Democratic lawmakers strongly suggested that Wexner's financial support was essential to enabling Epstein's sex trafficking operation, though Wexner has never faced criminal charges despite being named in a 2019 FBI document as a potential co-conspirator.

Who is affected

Les Wexner (88-year-old billionaire and former Victoria's Secret CEO)
Wexner's family (allegedly had money stolen by Epstein)
Jeffrey Epstein's victims (women and girls who were trafficked)
House of Representatives Oversight Committee members (conducting the investigation)
Democratic lawmakers who attended the deposition
Republican staff members who attended

What action is being taken

The House Oversight Committee is conducting a probe into the Epstein case
Committee members are questioning Wexner about his relationship with Epstein
Democrats are holding depositions and addressing reporters about their findings

Why it matters

This testimony is significant because lawmakers believe Wexner's financial support was essential to enabling Epstein's sex trafficking operation, with one congressman stating there would have been no Epstein island, plane, or money to traffic victims without Wexner's backing. The investigation aims to establish accountability for those who may have facilitated Epstein's crimes, even if indirectly, and to uncover the full extent of the network that enabled years of abuse. Despite appearing thousands of times in FBI files and being named as a potential co-conspirator, Wexner was never charged, raising questions about whether justice was fully served.

What's next

No explicit next steps stated in the article

Read full article from source: BBC