Epstein was a ‘diabolical, grasp manipulator’ who ‘conned’ me out of thousands and thousands, says Victoria’s Secret founder Les Wexner
Victoria’s Secret founder Les Wexner told US House Democrats during a field deposition in Ohio on Tuesday that he was ‘conned’ by deceased pedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein.
Wexner categorically denied any knowledge of Epstein’s sex trafficking crimes.
‘He was a con man. And while I was conned, I have done nothing wrong and have nothing to hide,’ Wexner said in a written statement.
He also noted that he regrets ever having met Epstein, per his opening statement.
Chairman and CEO of Victoria’s Secret parent L Brands Les Wexner tours the exhibit at the Wexner Center for the Arts in Columbus, Ohio, September 19, 2014
A man who appears to be Les Wexner, center, puts his arms around Jeffrey Epstein, left, and a person whose face has been redacted at a social gathering in this undated image. The image appeared in the page after Wexner’s handwritten note in a 2003 book celebrating Epstein’s 50th birthday.
Wexner’s name appears in the Epstein files over 1,000 times, and the two shared a lengthy business relationship.
Epstein first met Wexner through a business associate around 1986.
It was an opportune time for Wexner´s finances. The Ohio business owner had grown a single Limited store in Columbus into a suite of 1980s mall staples: The Limited, Limited Express, Lane Bryant and Victoria´s Secret. Abercrombie & Fitch, Lerner, White Barn Candle Co. and others would follow.
Within a couple years, Wexner had turned over management of his vast fortune to Epstein. He gave his now-trusted associate his power of attorney in 1991, allowing Epstein to make investments and do business deals and to purchase property and help develop what would become the vast Wexner estate in then-rural New Albany, documents show.
Epstein had ‘excellent judgment and unusually high standards,’ Wexner told Vanity Fair in a 2003 interview, and he was ‘always a most loyal friend.’
In his letter to Congress, Wexner notes that he ‘completely and irrevocably cut ties with Epstein nearly twenty years ago’ when he ‘learned that he was an abuser, a crook, and a harasser.’
Wexner also added that he ‘never witnessed nor had any knowledge of Epstein’s criminal activity.’
‘I was never a participant nor co-conspirator in any of Epstein’s illegal activities. To my enormous embarrassment and regret, I, like many others, was duped by a world-class con man,’ he added in the letter.
Wexner gave Epstein power of attorney over his affairs and additionally provided the convicted pedophile with his New York City townhouse.
Wexner has never been charged with any crimes in connection with Epstein.
In one of the newly released documents, Epstein sent rough notes to himself about Wexner saying: ‘never ever, did anything without informing les’ and ‘I would never give him up.’ Another document, an apparent draft letter to Wexner, said the two ‘had `gang stuff´ for over 15 years’ and were mutually indebted to each other – as Wexner helped make Epstein rich and Epstein helped make Wexner richer.
A spokesperson for Wexner said he never received the letter.
‘It appears Epstein was furious that Mr. Wexner refused to meet with him years after Mr. Wexner terminated Epstein and cut off all ties with him following Mr. Wexner´s discovery of Epstein´s theft and criminal conduct,’ the spokesperson, Tom Davies, said. ‘The draft appears to fit a pattern of untrue, outlandish, and delusional statements made by Epstein in desperate attempts to perpetuate his lies and justify his misconduct.’
