Wexner gave Epstein ‘a couple of billion {dollars}’
NEW ALBANY, Ohio (WSYX) — Lawmakers questioned Columbus billionaire Les Wexner on Wednesday at his house in New Albany about his relationship with Jeffrey Epstein, who died in federal custody in 2019 whereas awaiting trial on federal sex-trafficking expenses.
RECAP: Watch Wednesday’s briefing beneath:
Wexner, the founding father of L Brands, is talked about repeatedly within the Epstein information. A spokesperson stated after the deposition that Wexner “honestly answered every question put to him today by the Committee,” and reiterated that he “has no knowledge of, and did not participate in, Epstein’s illegal conduct.”
MORE WEXNER COVERAGE
Wexner and Epstein’s Rise
Rep. Robert Garcia argued Wexner performed a central function in financing Epstein. “There is no single person that was more involved in providing Jeffrey Epstein with the financial support to commit his crimes than Les Wexner,” Garcia advised reporters. He stated survivors have raised considerations in regards to the scale of cash transfers related to Wexner and Epstein.
Garcia pointed to what he described as a billion {dollars} in worth transferring to Epstein. “To be very clear, we know that approximately over a billion dollars, it looks like—it’s about a billion dollars—that was either transferred, provided in stocks, or given directly to Mr. Epstein by Wexner,” he stated.
Garcia stated Wexner claimed he was unaware of how a lot cash moved between them and was making an attempt to reduce how shut the 2 males had been over roughly twenty years.
“We should be very clear that there would be no Epstein island, there would be no Epstein plan, there would be no money to traffic women and girls, Mr. Epstein would not be the wealthy man he was without the support of Les Wexner,” Garcia stated.
Wexner reportedly advised the committee he was by no means on Epstein’s airplane and visited Epstein’s island solely as soon as throughout what he described as a household cruise on their boat. Rep. Yassamin Ansari of Arizona stated she questioned him about that journey.
“He claimed he was on the island for one hour, and that he walked around with his family. I asked if any other individuals were there and he said no,” Ansari stated.
Wexner Addresses Relationship
Ahead of the deposition, Wexner—largely out of the general public eye in recent times—issued a uncommon assertion calling Epstein a “world-class man” and saying he lower ties with Epstein almost 20 years in the past.
Wexner stated he met Epstein within the “mid-to-late 1980s” and ultimately employed him to handle his private funds on the suggestion of different businessmen. He stated he gave Epstein “power of attorney” to handle transactions rapidly.
“What is so clear only now is that Epstein lived a double life,” Wexner stated, including, “At no time did I ever witness the side of Epstein’s life for which he is now infamous.”
Wexner stated that in 2007, as Epstein was accused of soliciting prostitution in Florida, a evaluate of his funds revealed “Epstein had stolen vast sums from our family.” Wexner stated, “Epstein agreed to, and did, return a substantial amount of money.” He added, “In light of his eventual guilty plea and deception of our family, we completely severed our relationship with Epstein.”
Wexner additionally addressed questions on his journey and make contact with with Epstein, saying, “I was never on his airplane,” and that he “visited Epstein’s island only once” along with his household throughout a cruise on their boat. He stated he by no means noticed or heard about Epstein being within the firm of a minor woman.
“I am the father of two girls, now women, and the thought of what he did makes me sick,” Wexner stated. He additionally addressed Epstein’s survivors, saying, “The pain he inflicted upon them is unfathomable to me. My heart goes out to each of them.”
In the Epstein information, a 2019 FBI doc alleges Wexner was a co-conspirator. Wexner denied that, saying, “I was never a participant nor co-conspirator in any of Epstein’s illegal activities.”
Wexner’s assertion doesn’t straight point out distinguished Epstein sufferer Virginia Giuffre, who claimed Epstein trafficked her to Wexner. Wexner stated any suggestion he was ever untrue to his spouse is “absolutely and entirely false,” and described “enormous embarrassment and regret,” saying he was “duped by a world-class con man.”
Rep. Dave Min of California stated he didn’t discover Wexner’s account plausible.
“I can basically say that he has basically alleged that he ‘saw no evil, heard no evil,’ despite being in the room with Jeffrey Epstein over and over and over. And it’s really just not credible. I realize he’s an elderly gentleman; memories fade. But the reputation of Jeffrey Epstein is very clear,” Min stated.
