Billionaire Leslie Wexner said on Feb 19 he once visited the island of late financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, but denied having knowledge of his criminal activity.
Mr Wexner, 88, said he cut all ties with Epstein nearly 20 years ago. He has not been accused of criminal wrongdoing.
The US Justice Department’s recent release of millions of internal documents related to Epstein has shed light on his ties to many prominent people – both before and after he pleaded guilty in 2008 to prostitution charges, including soliciting an underage girl.
Epstein’s death in 2019 in a Manhattan jail cell was ruled a suicide.
“And, let me be crystal clear: I never witnessed nor had any knowledge of Epstein’s criminal activity. I was never a participant nor co-conspirator in any of Epstein’s illegal activities,” Mr Wexner said in a written testimony to US lawmakers.
He was questioned for six hours behind closed doors by congressional investigators on Feb 18.
Mr Wexner, a former chief executive and founder of Victoria’s Secret owner L Brands, hired Epstein as his personal money manager starting in the 1980s. He has accused Epstein of using his money to buy properties and goods and says he severed ties around 2007, after Epstein was first criminally charged.
Hellbound and Down 