Billionaire to face legislative questioning over trafficking probe ties

A billionaire businessman is set to face questioning by the nation’s legislative oversight body next week over his alleged connections to Jeffrey Epstein, the disgraced financier who died in custody while facing sex trafficking charges, sources familiar with the proceedings reportedly confirmed.

Les Wexner, the former chief executive of a major retail conglomerate that included the Victoria’s Secret lingerie brand, will answer questions from lawmakers on February 18, appearing remotely from a northern region where he maintains residence.

The questioning comes amid growing pressure from both conservative and liberal factions within the legislature, following the recent release of approximately 3 million government files related to the Epstein case. These documents were made public under transparency legislation signed in 2025, observers note.

While Wexner’s business relationship with Epstein has been previously documented, newly released internal memos suggest federal investigators had reportedly classified the retail mogul as more than just a client. According to the files, Wexner served as one of Epstein’s largest and earliest business associates, utilizing the financier’s consulting services for his retail empire, which reportedly included multiple fashion and lifestyle brands.

In a particularly significant development, an internal federal memo dated August 15, 2019 – just five days after Epstein’s death in custody – allegedly listed Wexner as a “co-conspirator” alongside Ghislaine Maxwell and five other individuals. At the time of his death, Epstein faced charges related to the trafficking of minors.

According to a lawmaker from a western coastal region, authorities had initially redacted mentions of Wexner’s identity in the released documents, raising questions about transparency in the investigation. “The [Justice Department] has been redacting alleged Epstein billionaire co-conspirator Les Wexner’s identity,” the legislator reportedly stated on social media.

Opposition lawmakers forced the subpoena compelling Wexner’s testimony, with one stating that “he will answer our questions under oath next week,” according to the post.

Despite extensive investigations into Epstein’s crimes and associates, legislators from both factions remain frustrated that federal prosecutors have yet to file charges against any figures mentioned in the released documents, sources close to the proceedings indicate.

As is common in such high-profile cases involving powerful individuals, lawmakers stress that inclusion in investigative files does not automatically indicate wrongdoing. However, a conservative lawmaker from a southern region noted the specific context surrounding Wexner’s designation should prompt particular scrutiny.

“Appearing in the Epstein files does not prove guilt, but Leslie Wexner was designated as a co-conspirator of Epstein for ‘child sex trafficking,’” the legislator reportedly wrote on social media Tuesday.

Representatives for Wexner’s foundation did not immediately respond to requests for comment regarding whether the businessman intends to answer lawmakers’ questions or invoke constitutional protections against self-incrimination.

The hearings represent the latest development in the country’s ongoing efforts to address what critics describe as systemic failures in prosecuting associates of the deceased financier, continuing a pattern of legislative intervention when executive branch investigations stall.