House Democrats said billionaire Les Wexner downplayed his relationship with Jeffrey Epstein and provided few new details during a closed-door Oversight Committee deposition Wednesday.
Why it matters: Wexner, an 88-year-old former owner of Victoria's Secret, is named in the Epstein files released by the Justice Department as a "co-conspirator," though he has not been charged with a crime and has denied any wrongdoing.
- "[Wexner] denied everything, and quite frankly, it would have been nice to see more remorse," Rep. Robert Garcia (D-Calif.), Oversight's top Democrat, told reporters midway through Wednesday's closed-door deposition in New Albany, Ohio, where Wexner lives.
- None of the panel's Republicans were physically present at the deposition, which Democrats said was led by committee staff. (A source familiar with the matter noted that Democrats did not attend the Clintons' scheduled deposition on Capitol Hill in January.)
- Oversight Chairman James Comer (R-Ky.) was absent due to a major oral surgery that was previously scheduled, a source familiar with the matter told Axios.
The big picture: Wexner's ties to Epstein date back to the 1980s. Epstein managed Wexner's massive fortune and was granted power of attorney to allow Epstein to do business deals and purchase property.
- Wexner revoked Epstein's power of attorney in 2007, just nine months before Epstein pleaded guilty in Florida.
The latest: Wexner's deposition lasted six hours, a committee spokesperson told Axios.
- "Les Wexner answered every question asked of him at today's deposition. We will release the video and transcript soon," the spokesperson said.
Driving the news: Wexner generally cooperated and answered the panel's questions, though he repeatedly claimed he did not "recall" events he was asked about, Democrats said, adding that he did not plead the Fifth Amendment.
- Wexner told the panel that he did not consider Epstein a close friend, and that he was instead "conned" by him, a person familiar with the matter told Axios.
- Wexner has previously accused Epstein of misappropriating $46 million of his fortune.
Zoom in: Democrats said that Wexner told them that he has not been questioned by the DOJ or FBI about Epstein, despite his name appearing hundreds of times in the Epstein files.
- They also said he told the committee he was on Epstein's island, Little Saint James, for only one hour on a single occasion, accompanied by his family.
- Wexner testified that Epstein never presented him with women for his sexual entertainment and that he never saw or became aware of President Trump having sexual relations with a person introduced to him by Epstein or Ghislaine Maxwell, according to a person familiar with the matter.
Catch up quick: The committee subpoenaed Wexner, Darren Indyke and Richard Kahn, close Epstein associates, in late January as part of its months-long investigation into the convicted sex offender.
- Maxwell, Epstein's co-conspirator who is serving a 20-year prison sentence, once described Wexner as being Epstein's "closest friend."
- Virginia Giuffre, one of Epstein's victims, also claimed Wexner was one of the men she was trafficked to in court documents. Wexner has denied ever meeting her, according to multiple news outlets.
The other side: Tom Davies, Wexner's spokesperson and legal representative, told Axios following the deposition: "Mr. Wexner honestly answered every question put to him today by the Committee. Mr. Wexner reiterated that has he has no knowledge of, and did not participate in, Epstein's illegal conduct. He stands by that fervently."
- "I was naïve, 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," Wexner said in his opening statement to the committee.
- Wexner disputed claims that he gave Epstein his Manhattan townhouse, testifying that Epstein purchased it for what Wexner was told was the appraised value.
Zoom out: Wexner's deposition follows the Justice Department's release of millions of internal documents related to Epstein.
- Members of Congress last week began viewing the unredacted copies of the files that have been released to the public.
- "Oversight Democrats on this committee will not back down until we get every detail, until every person who enabled and perpetrated these crimes is held accountable," Rep. Yassamin Ansari (D-Ariz.) said Wednesday.
What's next: Former President Bill Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton are expected to sit for closed-door depositions before the panel on Feb. 26 and 27 as part of the Epstein probe.
Editor's note: This story has been corrected to say that Wexner is a former owner (not the founder) of Victoria's Secret. It has also been updated with additional reporting.
