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What did Wexner say publicly about his relationship with Epstein after Epstein’s 2019 arrest and what evidence contradicts or supports his statements?
Executive summary
Les Wexner publicly said in 2019 that he had severed ties with Jeffrey Epstein “nearly 12 years ago” (i.e., around 2007) and called himself “embarrassed” to have been close to Epstein [1] [2]. Available reporting and released documents, however, show a long, deep financial and personal tie — power of attorney, estate sales, a Manhattan townhouse Epstein used that was bought from a Wexner-linked entity, and Wexner’s name appearing repeatedly in estate and civil-file records — that has prompted questions about whether the 2007 cut-off fully reflects the scope of their relationship [3] [4] [2].
1. Wexner’s public statements after Epstein’s 2019 arrest — “severed... nearly 12 years ago”
After Epstein’s 2019 arrest and death, Wexner’s public posture was to distance himself: a 2019 L Brands investor conference statement and later spokesman comments said Epstein served as his personal money manager “for a period that ended nearly 12 years ago,” and Wexner said he was “embarrassed” to have been close to someone “so sick, so cunning, so depraved” [1] [2]. Multiple outlets report Wexner’s camp saying ties were cut in 2007 [5] [6].
2. Documentary and investigative records that complicate the “cut ties in 2007” narrative
Reporting and released court and estate records show Epstein retained substantial roles and benefits tied to Wexner for years: Epstein ran aspects of Wexner’s finances, had power of attorney, acquired a Manhattan townhouse tied to Wexner-linked entities, and at times was effectively Wexner’s primary client — details that continued to surface well after 2007 in unsealed civil documents and committee releases [3] [2] [4]. These materials show names, emails and property transfers that complicate a simple “we split in 2007” claim [4] [3].
3. Specific documentary touchpoints cited by reporters
House Oversight releases and estate files published in 2025 include thousands of pages referencing Wexner; one local TV analysis counted at least 89 mentions in the 2025 estate materials [4]. The records include emails, financial documents and a 2003 “birthday book” that lists “Lesley Wexner,” plus reporting that the townhouse Epstein used was purchased through a Wexner-linked corporation in 1998 [7] [4]. Investigations also show Epstein had power of attorney and managed Wexner’s assets at various times [3].
4. Allegations from victims’ civil filings that directly contradict parts of Wexner’s public denials
Virginia Giuffre’s 2015 civil filings — unsealed in later document releases — include allegations that she had sexual encounters with Wexner; those claims were denied by Wexner and are among the disputed, serious allegations in the public file set [8] [9]. Those filings and Maxwell’s statements to prosecutors describing Epstein’s influence in New Albany and Wexner as “very important client” further complicate Wexner’s public framing [10] [11].
5. Wexner’s camp: what he and his spokespeople have insisted publicly
Wexner’s representatives and corporate spokespeople have repeatedly said Epstein was a personal money manager for a period that ended years earlier, that he wasn’t an L Brands executive or authorized representative, and that the Wexners severed ties after allegations first emerged [5] [12] [1]. They have framed later disclosures as disturbing but consistent with a relationship that Wexner says he ended around 2007 [5] [12].
6. Where reporting and documents disagree — and what is not yet in these sources
Reporting agrees that the relationship was unusually close and financial entanglements were extensive, but sources diverge on chronology and extent: Wexner’s statements emphasize a 2007 break [5], while document releases and estate records show Epstein operating with continued benefits tied to Wexner-linked properties and appearing in materials long after that date [4] [2]. Available sources do not mention a definitive, court-adjudicated ruling that establishes exactly when all ties ended; nor do they resolve every factual dispute about specific alleged sexual encounters — those remain contested in public filings [8] [9].
7. Why the new releases matter and the political context
Large batches of emails and estate files released in 2025 have re-energized scrutiny of Epstein’s network — including Wexner — because they provide contemporaneous records (emails, property transfers, guest lists and commemorative books) that either confirm connections or raise fresh questions about timing and knowledge [13] [14] [2]. Political actors and committees have used these releases to push for fuller DOJ disclosures, and partisan framing around the documents has been immediate and public [13] [15].
8. Bottom line for readers: what can be asserted from available reporting
From available reporting, Wexner publicly insisted in 2019 that he severed ties with Epstein around 2007 and expressed embarrassment [1] [5]. The contemporaneous documents and later unsealed files, however, document a long, multi-faceted relationship — including power of attorney, property transactions, and broader estate mentions — that make the 2007 cut-off and the full scope of association a subject of legitimate dispute and continuing investigation [3] [4].