Columbus billionaire Les Wexner responds as House investigators scrutinize newly released Epstein case files

Wexner appears under subpoena as Congress presses for answers on Epstein records and past financial ties

Columbus-area retail billionaire Leslie H. Wexner issued a written statement as he appeared for a closed-door congressional deposition tied to the expanding review of federal records connected to Jeffrey Epstein, the late financier whose crimes led to multiple prosecutions and years of scrutiny of his associates.

Wexner’s deposition was conducted by the U.S. House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform on February 18, 2026. The location was moved from Washington, D.C., to Ohio following coordination between committee staff and Wexner’s legal counsel, consistent with standard practices in deposition scheduling and logistics. The committee has been gathering testimony from individuals connected to Epstein as lawmakers seek explanations for what appears in recently disclosed investigative material and what remains withheld or redacted.

In his statement, Wexner said he was “naïve, foolish, and gullible” to have trusted Epstein, described him as a “con man,” and said he had “done nothing wrong” and had “nothing to hide.”

The statement reiterated Wexner’s long-standing position that he had no knowledge of Epstein’s sexual abuse or related criminal conduct during their relationship, and that he severed ties after learning information he considered disqualifying. Wexner has not been charged with a crime connected to Epstein.

Congressional interest has intensified following major Justice Department disclosures under the Epstein Files Transparency Act, signed into law in late 2025. The law set deadlines for the public release of responsive investigative records while requiring protections for victim-identifying information. In late January 2026, the Justice Department announced a large additional publication of materials, describing the release as totaling nearly 3.5 million pages across tranches and including substantial volumes of images and video. The department also said some material could be withheld under enumerated exceptions and privilege claims, and that submitted items may include inaccurate or false claims included in tips provided to investigators.

Lawmakers from both parties have continued to dispute whether the department’s releases fully satisfy the law and whether additional oversight mechanisms are needed. Separate court filings in early 2026 reflected the Justice Department’s position that members of Congress could not intervene in criminal-case proceedings to direct the pace or method of disclosure, while lawmakers have argued that transparency and compliance remain incomplete.

Why Wexner remains central to the inquiry

Wexner has long been viewed as one of Epstein’s most prominent financial clients and a major factor in Epstein’s rise in elite social and business circles. Public reporting over the past decade has documented that Wexner granted Epstein unusually broad authority over aspects of his financial affairs in the early 1990s and later alleged that Epstein misappropriated significant sums. Wexner’s statement to investigators framed his relationship with Epstein as a deception carried out by a trusted adviser.

• The House inquiry is examining how names and descriptions appear in the released investigative records, including instances where individuals are referenced without charges.
• Investigators are also weighing competing claims about what was known by associates, when ties were severed, and how financial and logistical networks functioned around Epstein.
• Any broader public accounting is likely to depend on whether transcripts or additional committee findings are released after depositions conclude.

For now, Wexner’s position remains that he was deceived, cut ties with Epstein years ago, and did not participate in or knowingly enable Epstein’s crimes—claims that lawmakers are testing against the growing body of disclosed federal records and witness testimony.