Watch: Les Wexner gives 5-hour deposition on the Epstein files

Les Wexner, the billionaire art collector and founder of Victoria's Secret parent company L Brands, sat for a nearly five-hour deposition with lawmakers about his ties to Jeffrey Epstein behind closed doors on Wednesday.

Wexner is known for having a long financial relationship with Epstein through the 1980s until he said he severed ties with him in 2007, which has led to scrutiny as authorities investigate ties between the former financier and his associates.

Last week, lawmakers revealed previously redacted names in the Justice Department’s Epstein files, which revealed that Wexner had previously been identified as a co-conspirator, though he has never been charged with any crime related to Epstein.

"I was conned by the world-Olympic, all-time con artist," Wexner said in his deposition. "I read in the news all the people he knew, royalty, kings and princes, and all that. An incredible con artist."

The full deposition recording was released by the U.S. House Oversight Committee. It shows that lawmakers questioned Wexner on a range of topics, including the L Brands plane and Manhattan mansion that he sold to Epstein, the convicted sex offender's involvement in the Wexner Foundation, and if he had knowledge of Epstein's crimes.

"Did Jeffrey Epstein ever present you with women for your sexual entertainment?" the panel questioned Wexner. "Absolutely not," he responded.

Wexner gave the same answer when asked if he ever saw Epstein have relations with young women or girls, but said that Epstein did discuss getting massages with him.

"He said massage therapy was great and that I should get massages," Wexner said.

Wexner was also extensively questioned in his deposition about artist Maria Farmer. In an affidavit filed in relation to a civil lawsuit brought by prominent Epstein accuser Virginia Giuffre against Ghislaine Maxwell, Farmer accused Epstein and Maxwell of abuse at a guest house allegedly on Wexner's property.

"I know her name from the press," Wexner responded when asked if he knew Farmer. He said that he never met her.

Wexner's legal team argued that the house where the alleged abuse occurred was a separate residence and was not part of the land Wexner personally occupied, despite being within the larger New Albany development he founded.

"I never met her, didn't know she was here, and didn't know she was abused," Wexner said. "... I didn't know she was here, so I didn't know shit about her, pardon me."

Giuffre, who died by suicide last year, previously alleged in 2016 that she was trafficked to Wexner, who also denied having ever met her.

In his deposition, Wexner said he could not recall Maxwell ever visiting his home in New Albany, Ohio, and said he was sure that Epstein had visited the home but could not recall a specific time.

He also said that Epstein "very rarely" flew on his L Brands plane, and hit back at characterizations that he "provided flights" to Epstein. The only time Wexner could recall Epstein being on the plane was ahead of a surprise birthday party thrown by his wife, Abigail. But he said Epstein did not attend the party.

Wexner, in the deposition, was also questioned about unverified tips received by the FBI amid investigations into Epstein's death in federal custody.

Richard Adrian, a bodyguard for Wexner, submitted a tip to the FBI in 2019 and said “Wexner was best friends with Epstein.”

“Adrian stated he had been to Epstein's Palm Beach home and noted that there were young girls there, but assumed they were family,” the FBI intake form for that tip reads. “Adrian was told by another bodyguard to keep to yourself and not ask questions.”

Wexner said he was never present with Epstein around women, or men, in bathing suits or underwear.

And he was questioned about the infamous birthday letter he wrote for Epstein, in which he drew a pair of breasts. Wexner said that the woman, whose face was redacted in a photograph of Wexner with Epstein, was his wife, during the launch of their boat.

"He was a bachelor, so I drew a pair of boobs," Wexner said, laughing, "as kind of a joke and offhandedly."

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