Wexner Deposition: Congressional Probe Targets Epstein’s Financial Enablers

The decision by a congressional committee to depose Les Wexner represents a pivotal shift in the long-running investigation into Jeffrey Epstein’s global network. For years, Wexner has remained a peripheral figure in public legal proceedings, despite being identified as Epstein’s most significant financial benefactor. This deposition signals that federal investigators are now prioritizing the "enabler" layer of the Epstein saga, moving beyond the immediate criminal acts to the institutional and financial structures that provided Epstein with his initial legitimacy and vast resources.

The relationship between Wexner and Epstein was unprecedented in its scope and lack of oversight. In 1991, Wexner granted Epstein full power of attorney over his personal and business finances, a move that effectively handed the keys to a multi-billion dollar retail empire to an individual with no formal background in high-level asset management. This arrangement allowed Epstein to acquire significant assets, including a $77 million Manhattan townhouse and a private Boeing 727, often using Wexner’s capital. From a RegTech perspective, this case serves as a stark reminder of the "blind spots" in private wealth management, where personal trust often bypasses the rigorous compliance checks standard in institutional banking.

The congressional probe is expected to focus heavily on the "Epstein files"—a collection of documents, ledgers, and communications that have been the subject of intense legal battles. Investigators are seeking to determine if Wexner was aware of Epstein’s illicit activities during their nearly two-decade association or if corporate resources from L Brands were inadvertently used to facilitate criminal conduct. While Wexner has consistently maintained that he was a victim of Epstein’s fraud and severed ties in 2007, the timeline of their interactions remains under scrutiny. The deposition will likely probe the specific circumstances of their split and whether any "red flags" were ignored by L Brands' internal compliance teams during the 1990s and early 2000s.

For the legal and regulatory community, the broader implication of this deposition lies in the potential for new oversight of family offices. Currently, family offices—private wealth management firms that serve ultra-high-net-worth individuals—operate with significantly less transparency than hedge funds or mutual funds under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940. If the congressional record demonstrates that Epstein used Wexner’s family office structure to launder his reputation or fund criminal enterprises, there will be renewed pressure on the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to implement stricter reporting requirements. This could include mandatory disclosures of beneficial ownership and more frequent audits of private wealth vehicles.

Furthermore, the Wexner deposition highlights the evolving nature of "key person risk" in corporate governance. Although Wexner stepped down as CEO and Chairman of L Brands in 2020, the company—now operating primarily as Bath & Body Works (BBWI)—continues to navigate the reputational fallout of its founder’s past associations. Modern boards are increasingly being held accountable for the personal conduct and external relationships of their founders, even decades after the fact. This case underscores the necessity for robust "reputational due diligence" as part of a comprehensive ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) strategy.

Looking ahead, the legal community will be watching for whether this deposition leads to criminal referrals or provides the basis for new civil litigation from Epstein’s victims. The outcome of this probe could redefine the legal boundaries of "willful blindness" for high-net-worth individuals who delegate total financial control to third parties. As Congress prepares to question one of the most successful retailers in American history, the intersection of private wealth, corporate responsibility, and criminal accountability has never been more visible.