Statement of Leslie H. Wexner Submitted to the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform (February 18, 2026)

Overview

This document is a written statement by Leslie “Les” Wexner submitted to the U.S. House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform for his February 18, 2026 deposition/testimony concerning his past relationship with Jeffrey Epstein. In the statement, Wexner describes himself as having been “naïve, foolish, and gullible” in trusting Epstein, asserts he did nothing wrong and had no knowledge of Epstein’s crimes, and says he “completely and irrevocably” cut ties nearly twenty years ago when he learned Epstein was an abuser and thief.

Wexner also acknowledges Epstein’s survivors and the harm caused, then gives a biographical overview of his business and philanthropic background, including his role as founder and former CEO of L Brands and his long-running philanthropy through entities such as the Wexner Foundation. (EPSTEIN WIKI)

Context

Pages 2 and 3 of Wexner’s submitted statement are the source for the account below. These are his assertions and denials, not findings adopted by the Committee.

Wexner says Bob Meister introduced him to Epstein in the middle to late 1980s. He says he also received favorable references from Bear Stearns figures Ace Greenberg and Jimmy Cayne and from Elie de Rothschild.

Wexner says he hired Epstein to manage his personal finances and granted him power of attorney so transactions could proceed without constantly requiring his signature. He says he later gave the same scope of authority to Dennis Hersch.

Wexner portrays Epstein as cultivating credibility through prominent acquaintances and institutions while concealing his criminal conduct from him. That description is Wexner’s account.

Key claims in the statement

• No knowledge or participation: Wexner denies witnessing or knowing about Epstein’s criminal activity and denies participating in or conspiring in it.
• Personal conduct denials: He explicitly denies being unfaithful to his wife Abigail and calls contrary claims “absolutely and entirely false.”
• Travel and property assertions: Wexner says he never traveled on Epstein’s airplane, that Epstein purchased the New York townhouse for what Wexner was told was its appraised value, and that he visited the island once for a few hours with his family.
• Break with Epstein and alleged theft: Wexner says Abigail’s review of financial information revealed substantial theft from the family. He dates revocation of Epstein’s power of attorney, removal of account access and forced resignation from affiliated entities to September 2007.
• Return of funds: Wexner says Epstein returned a substantial amount of money while denying wrongdoing. The statement does not specify a dollar amount.
• Wexner Foundation
• Handwritten “Important Message” Notes and Internal Memos Referencing Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell (Exhibit 3, 014224–014274)
• FBI Travel Concurrence Requests and Palm Beach Police Incident Reports Related to Jeffrey Epstein (2005–2006) (018951–018961)

Additional links

Coverage and context reporting (external):

• The Guardian report on Wexner’s testimony and submitted statement (The Guardian)
• Wall Street Journal report on Wexner’s deposition testimony (The Wall Street Journal)
• House Oversight Democrats: January 23, 2026 subpoena to Wexner (PDF) (Oversight Democrats)

Sources

1. Statement of Leslie H. Wexner Submitted to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, U.S. House of Representatives (February 18, 2026) (PDF)
2. The Guardian: “Billionaire Les Wexner to testify before Congress about ties to Epstein” (February 18, 2026) (The Guardian)
3. The Wall Street Journal: “Billionaire Leslie Wexner Testifies He Was ‘Duped’ by Epstein” (February 18, 2026) (The Wall Street Journal)

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