WASHINGTON - Leslie Wexner testified to a U.S. House panel Wednesday that he visited Jeffrey Epstein’s private Caribbean island once, accompanying family members while they were in the area on their boat, and that the stop lasted "for a few hours."
During a deposition to congressional investigators, Wexner said he was unaware at the time of any sex-trafficking activities tied to Epstein, according to reporting from Bloomberg. The 88-year-old, who formerly led L Brands Inc., stressed that he "never witnessed nor had any knowledge of Epstein’s criminal activity" and that he "never saw or heard about Epstein being in the company of a minor girl."
The House Oversight Committee is conducting an inquiry into whether Epstein’s network of relationships helped sustain his operation or delayed criminal prosecution. As part of that broader review, congressional investigators questioned Wexner about his contacts and movements related to Epstein.
Separately, law enforcement officials involved in Epstein’s 2019 sex-trafficking prosecution identified Wexner in an email released by the Department of Justice in December as one of 10 "co-conspirators." Wexner was not charged in that case. In the statement given to investigators, he rejected any implication of wrongdoing, saying he was neither "a participant nor co-conspirator" in Epstein’s crimes.
Wexner is the former chief executive of Columbus, Ohio-based L Brands Inc., the parent company that owned retail names including Victoria’s Secret, Bath & Body Works, and Abercrombie & Fitch. Questions about his association with Epstein have drawn attention because of Wexner’s past role at a major retail conglomerate and the high-profile nature of the investigation.
Context and follow-up
Congressional investigators continue to examine the scope of Epstein’s connections and whether those relationships had any bearing on law enforcement actions or prosecutorial timing. Wexner’s testimony provides a public record of his account of a brief, single visit and his denial of any knowledge of criminal conduct.