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A hot mic caught Les Wexner’s lawyer jokingly threatening to “kill” the former Victoria’s Secret mogul during his lengthy deposition before the House Oversight Committee regarding connections to Jeffrey Epstein.
The incident occurred several hours into Wexner’s nearly five-hour testimony, which was recently released in full by the committee. As the 88-year-old billionaire was delivering a particularly verbose response, his attorney leaned in and whispered, “I’m going to f—ing kill you if you answer another question with more than five words, okay?”
Both men laughed at the remark, indicating it was intended as humor. The attorney then instructed Wexner to “answer the question,” continuing to laugh. Earlier, the same lawyer had urged Wexner to be more concise, saying, “I’m sure we all appreciate the stories, we’re just trying to answer questions that they actually want answered.”
Wexner’s testimony is part of the committee’s ongoing investigation into Epstein’s network of associates and enablers. The billionaire retail tycoon, who founded L Brands (formerly The Limited), revolutionized the retail landscape through acquisitions of Victoria’s Secret, Bath & Body Works, Express, and Abercrombie & Fitch. His relationship with Epstein has drawn intense scrutiny since the financier’s crimes came to light.
Despite being named as a co-conspirator in a 2019 FBI document, Wexner maintained his innocence throughout the deposition, characterizing himself as one of Epstein’s victims. “I was naïve, foolish, and gullible to put any trust in Jeffrey Epstein,” Wexner testified. “He was a con man. And while I was conned, I have done nothing wrong and have nothing to hide.”
Wexner told the committee he severed ties with Epstein in 2007 after learning of an investigation and discovering Epstein had misappropriated funds from him and his family. He claimed to have recovered a substantial portion of those misappropriated assets.
The retail magnate described his relationship with Epstein as strictly professional, stating, “I don’t think I ever went to lunch, or dinner, a movie or had a cup of coffee with Jeffrey,” adding that his focus remained on “my business and on community.” Despite this characterization, Epstein had been granted power of attorney over Wexner’s vast wealth during their business relationship.
Wexner also sold his Manhattan townhouse to Epstein, which later became one of the locations where federal authorities said Epstein abused young women and underage girls. During questioning, Wexner denied knowledge of any abuse that allegedly took place at a guesthouse on his New Albany, Ohio estate, where Epstein victim Maria Farmer has stated she was abused by Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell.
“I never met her, didn’t know she was here, didn’t know she was abused,” Wexner stated firmly. He also categorically denied knowing about Epstein or Maxwell arranging women for prominent individuals and rejected any suggestion of personal sexual involvement with anyone introduced by the pair.
When questioned about a birthday note he wrote to Epstein in which he drew breasts with a caption reading, “Dear Jeffrey, I wanted to get you what you want, so here it is… Your friend, Leslie,” Wexner confirmed writing it but dismissed it as harmless. “He was a bachelor, so I drew a pair of boobs as kind of a joke, offhandedly, I would say,” he explained.
The committee also inquired about Wexner’s knowledge of Epstein’s relationship with former President Donald Trump. Wexner stated he did not believe they were friends, but that Epstein “held him out as a friend.”
The House Oversight Committee stated it released the full deposition with “no spin,” emphasizing that “The American people deserve to see the testimony for themselves—transparency matters.” Wexner is the fourth person to appear before the committee in its ongoing Epstein investigation.
According to Wexner, neither the FBI nor the Department of Justice has ever directly contacted him regarding Epstein’s crimes, despite his close business relationship with the disgraced financier.
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7 Comments
As an investor, I’m closely following developments in the Epstein case and its connections to prominent figures like Wexner. This latest revelation raises red flags and highlights the importance of rigorous oversight in such high-stakes matters.
The Epstein saga continues to unravel, with more details emerging about his influential network. This exchange between Wexner and his lawyer underscores the sensitive nature of these inquiries and the need for transparency.
The Epstein scandal continues to uncover troubling details about the powerful individuals involved. This exchange between Wexner and his lawyer, while intended as a joke, underscores the need for a thorough, unbiased investigation.
Interesting to see the lawyer’s attempt at levity during such a serious deposition. While it may have been meant in jest, the subject matter makes the comment highly inappropriate. I hope the committee examines this exchange closely.
This is certainly an intriguing incident at Wexner’s Epstein deposition. While the lawyer’s comment was meant as humor, it still raises questions about the tone and dynamics at play during these high-profile investigations.
Given the gravity of the Epstein case, any hint of impropriety or inappropriate behavior from those involved is concerning. This incident with Wexner’s lawyer, even if in jest, warrants close scrutiny by the oversight committee.
Lawyers often use humor to defuse tense situations, but the context here makes the remark quite concerning. I wonder how the House Oversight Committee will view this incident as part of their broader investigation into Epstein’s enablers.