Leslie Wexner, the billionaire founder of L Brands, faced questions from United States lawmakers at his Ohio home on Wednesday about his relationship with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
The meeting was part of an investigation into Epstein's rise to wealth and influence, with five members of the House Oversight Committee travelling to depose the 88-year-old after Democrats subpoenaed him. Authorities said the latest tranche of documents released by the Justice Department on January 30, 2026, had raised further questions about Wexner's role in Epstein's ascent.
Wexner's name appears in the newly released files, which include communications and financial documents related to Epstein. The retail billionaire has stated, "I was naive, foolish, and gullible to put any trust in Jeffrey Epstein. He was a con man. And while I was conned, I have done nothing wrong and have nothing to hide."
Epstein's Rise to Prominence
Epstein was introduced to Wexner in the mid-1980s, and by 1986, he had granted Epstein full power of attorney, allowing him to manage his finances and make decisions on his behalf. The Wexner Foundation, which Wexner founded, also paid former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak approximately $2.3m for two research studies between 2004 and 2006.
Barak, who served as Israel's prime minister from 1999 to 2001 and later as defence minister from 2007 to 2013, maintained contact with Epstein for several years. A court filing included in the newly released Epstein records contains an allegation that prominent victim Virginia Giuffre claimed that Wexner and Barak were two of the men Epstein trafficked her to.
The documents illustrate how Epstein managed to convert financial credibility into political access, and then reinforced those relationships through shared commercial ventures. In 2015, Epstein invested in Reporty Homeland Security, later rebranded as Carbyne, a startup chaired by Ehud Barak that developed advanced emergency communications technology.
Wexner has said he severed ties with Epstein around 2007 after discovering that Epstein had "misappropriated vast sums of money from me and my family". Barak has stated, "I am responsible for all my actions and decisions. There is room to question whether I should have investigated more thoroughly. I regret not doing so."
Source: Al Jazeera
