Billionaire Leslie Wexner
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claimed to have been “conned by the world’s all-time Olympic cheater” Jeffrey Epstein. During his testimony before the House Oversight Committee on Wednesday, Wexner claimed his longtime ties to a convicted sex offender.
The ties between Wexner were Epstein
Wexner had been Epstein’s main client since the late 1980s, providing him with the institutional legitimacy and capital needed to access global elites. In 1991, Wexner even granted Epstein power of attorney over his personal and business finances.
Epstein served as a trustee of the Wexner Foundation and helped manage its multimillion-dollar budget.
However, during the deposition, Wexner said that Epstein stole hundreds of millions from him.
‘I didn’t know then’
When asked why he didn’t press charges against Epstein or report him to authorities, Wexner said he wasn’t aware of the extent.
“I didn’t know at the time,” Wexner said, according to ABC News.
“When you found out why didn’t you go see him?” Wexner asked. “Is it because he was a good friend?”
The 88-year-old refused to answer directly, saying his father had advised him: “You can’t get into a peeing contest with an elephant.”
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“Madoff would look like a Boy Scout”
Wexner then compared Epstein to Bernie Madoff, mastermind of the largest known Ponzi scheme in history.
“In hindsight, you know, um, looking back, he would have done Bernie Madoff as a Boy Scout. So complete — so diabolical. I mean, just unbelievable, sinister,” Wexner said.
Madoff is accused of defrauding thousands of investors out of an estimated $64.8 billion over several decades.
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According to Wexner, he severed ties in late 2007 after discovering that Epstein had embezzled “huge sums” of money.
Asked if he had ever been in contact with Epstein after 2008, when he pleaded guilty to soliciting minors, Wexner said: “I never spoke to him. I never saw him, as far as I’m concerned. Once we knew how bad he was, he was dead.”
This claim contradicts the recently released Epstein documents, which showed that the two were in contact until at least June 2008.
Allegations against Wexner
Wexner was named by the late Virginia Giuffre, one of Epstein’s victims, as having been trafficked for him. Wexner vehemently denies the claims and has never been charged with a crime.
During the deposition, Wexner also claimed that he had never been socially involved with Epstein.
“What common interests did you share with Mr. Epstein?” Wexner was asked, to which he said, “None.”
Asked again if he had no personal relationship with Epstein, Wexner said, “I don’t think I ever went to lunch or dinner or a movie or had a cup of coffee with Jeffrey.”