Billionaire Leslie Wexner told congressional investigators that late pedophile Jeffrey Epstein would 'name drop' President Donald Trump and others when trying to flex his influence.
The 88-year-old founder of L Brands, which for a time held Victoria's Secret and Bath & Body Works in its portfolio, was deposed by lawmakers on the House Oversight Committee over his connections to the late sex offender.
The committee and the Department of Justice have released over 3 million pages of documents related to Epstein, his alleged crimes, and troves of his personal correspondence.
Trump denies any wrongdoing, and the appearance of his name in the files does not constitute evidence of criminal conduct. Wexner is also featured heavily in the files.
The L Brands founder claimed that the late financier 'conned' him, and his relationship with Epstein ended in 2007 after discovering he 'stole vast sums from our family.'
Epstein 'held [Trump] out as a friend,' Wexner testified, according to video of his deposition released by House Oversight Democrats.
When pressed by Texas Democrat Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett on whether Epstein ever discussed Trump with Wexner, the billionaire said he couldn't remember any specifics.
'He would name drop,' Trump, Wexner said. 'Like I know President Clinton or I know the Pope or I know God or I know you. It was that kind of name dropping. I can’t remember a specific instance, but Jeffrey dropped a lot of names.'
Despite the pedophile wanting to appear within Trump's orbit, Wexner stated he did not believe the two were friends.
An image that appeared in the page after Wexner's handwritten note in a 2003 book celebrating Epstein's 50th birthday. Wexner and Epstein shared a close relationship for years, though the billionaire denies knowing about Epstein's crimes
Les Wexner, 88, at the deposition with congressional investigators
The merchandise mogul shared that he had met Trump before briefly, but that he didn't think the executive would remember him. He also added that the way they met was a tad 'odd.'
'I would go to some of the Victoria's Secret Fashion shows ... at some of the fashion shows, Jeffrey was there at some, Trump was there,' the 88-year-old told investigators.
'And I remember because Trump would always introduce himself to me, and I always thought it was kind of odd that he was at the fashion show, because he had nothing to do with fashion.'
The White House spokeswoman Abigail Jackson defended Trump when pressed for comment, noting how 'he's been totally exonerated on anything related to Epstein.'
'President Trump has done more for Epstein’s victims than anyone before him,' she added.
The revelations come as both Democrats and Republicans have expressed fury with the Trump administration's handling of the Epstein files.
'Dr. Oz invited Epstein to some Valentine's Day party he and his wife were having in 2016,' ex-Republican Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene fumed this week.
'This is Dr. Oz that's currently serving in the Trump administration… That was after Epstein had been convicted of pedophilia.'
Wexner said he met Trump at a Victoria's Secret fashion show, which he thought was 'odd'
She's accused Republicans of botching the Epstein files so poorly that they will hemorrhage significant numbers of female voters come the midterms.
'If you had not called the Epstein files a hoax and treated the Epstein survivors (rape and trafficking victims) like they didn’t exist and if you would release all the files and put your rich powerful friends in prison then Americans might actually listen to your “messaging,"' Greene posted on X.
Republican Congressman Thomas Massie, who led the bill forcing the government to release the Epstein files, has accused Trump of stifling his push for accountability, saying 'This is the Epstein administration.'
House Democrats would later state that, after the deposition, they did not believe much of the billionaire's testimony.
'He claims to want to provide information and to be helpful in the investigation, but then quickly follows up by saying that he does not recall details around a relationship with somebody that he had for decades,' Democratic Congresswoman Yassamin Ansari of Arizona said.
The committee's top Democrat, Congressman Robert Garcia, also expressed skepticism with Wexner's testimony.
'I do not believe when Mr. Wexner says that he did not have a personal relationship or a friendly relationship,' with Epstein, Garcia said after the deposition.
Wexner also said Epstein never shared any details with him about Trump's sexual activity.
For his part, the 88-year-old claimed he's never been unfaithful to his wife of 33 years.
