• Les Wexner describes himself as "naive" for trusting Jeffrey Epstein.
• Wexner claims to have severed ties with Epstein nearly 20 years ago.
• The billionaire was questioned by lawmakers regarding his financial support to Epstein.
• A House committee is investigating Epstein's finances, with Wexner's testimony being crucial.
• An extensive release of documents has implicated Wexner in Epstein's financial dealings.

During a recent House committee deposition, billionaire Les Wexner testified about his connections with Jeffrey Epstein, claiming he was "naive, foolish, and gullible" for trusting the late sex offender. Wexner, who previously served as the CEO of Victoria's Secret's parent company, stated that Epstein had stolen "vast sums" of money from him and his family during their professional relationship, which began in the 1980s and ended around 2007, following Epstein's first criminal charges. Despite allegations of being a co-conspirator, he has denied any wrongdoing, stating he cut ties with Epstein after discovering the latter’s criminal conduct, according to CBS News and BBC.

Wexner faced intense scrutiny from lawmakers, particularly from Rep. Robert Garcia, who emphasized that without Wexner's financial backing, "there would be no Epstein island, there'd be no Epstein plane, there'd be no money to traffic women and girls." Wexner defended himself by asserting that he never witnessed nor participated in Epstein's illicit activities, and clarified his view of Epstein as a "world-class con man" after being misled by him. He reiterated that he was never a target of any investigation, backed by statements from his legal counsel regarding his cooperation with federal authorities, according to BBC and Reuters.

The testimony was part of an ongoing investigation into Epstein's financial activities, spurred by the recent release of over three million pages of related documents. Wexner has claimed to have visited Epstein's private island only once, yet he expressed anger over having been deceived by someone he once trusted. "Once I learned of his abusive conduct and theft from my family, I never spoke with Epstein again," he remarked during the deposition. Lawmakers have highlighted the significant role Wexner played in facilitating Epstein’s financial dealings, bringing into question the extent of his knowledge about Epstein's criminal activities, according to Reuters and CBS News.