Norms Impact
Billionaire Les Wexner says he was ‘duped’ by adviser Jeffrey Epstein, ‘a world-class con man’
Bipartisan oversight escalates when a House committee compels billionaire testimony by subpoena, forcing sworn answers about ties to a notorious financier into the public record.
Feb 18, 2026
Sources
Summary
Les Wexner told the House Oversight and Reform Committee that he was “duped” by Jeffrey Epstein and denied knowing about Epstein’s crimes or participating in abuse of girls and young women. The committee’s Democrats used subpoena power to compel testimony following a Justice Department document release that added new details about their relationship. The proceeding puts congressional oversight on record and signals further public disclosure through an expected video and transcript.
Reality Check
Subpoena-driven testimony is one of the last tools our elected representatives have to force powerful private actors to answer under institutional scrutiny, and weakening that mechanism would hollow out accountability that protects our rights. Nothing described here is likely criminal by itself: Wexner’s statement of being “duped” and his denials do not constitute a federal offense without proof of a materially false statement made knowingly and willfully, which is where 18 U.S.C. § 1001 and perjury statutes like 18 U.S.C. §§ 1621–1623 would come into play. The real precedent is governance, not prosecution: Congress used compulsory process to investigate facts revealed by a Justice Department document release, and the promised transcript and video will determine whether oversight is real or performative.
Detail
<p>Les Wexner, the 88-year-old retired founder of L Brands, appeared for a 6-hour interview with the House Oversight and Reform Committee in New Albany, Ohio. Ahead of the interview, the committee released Wexner’s statement in which he said he was “naive, foolish, and gullible” to trust Jeffrey Epstein, described Epstein as a “con man,” and stated he had “done nothing wrong” and had “nothing to hide.” Wexner denied knowing about Epstein’s crimes and denied participating in Epstein’s abuse of girls and young women.</p><p>Committee Democrats subpoenaed Wexner after a Justice Department release of Epstein-related documents disclosed new details about Wexner’s relationship with Epstein. Rep. James Comer, the committee’s Republican ranking member, said Wexner “answered every question asked of him” during the proceeding. The committee expects to release a video and transcript of the interview soon.</p>