Attorney jokingly threatens to ‘kill’ ex-Victoria Secret CEO during Epstein deposition

The lawyer for former Victoria’s Secret mogul Les Wexner was caught on a scorching microphone and jokingly threatened to “kill” him if he continued to provide prolonged solutions to questions throughout his deposition on Jeffrey Epstein by the Home Oversight Committee.

The second was captured after the fee launched its full, almost five-hour deposition of the 88-year-old Wexner as a part of its ongoing investigation into Jeffrey Epstein’s community.

A number of hours after the deposition, as Wexner gave a very long-winded reply, Wexner’s lawyer leaned over and whispered in his ear, “I’ll kill you in case you reply one other query with greater than 5 phrases, okay?”

Each Wexner and his lawyer laughed after this assertion, indicating that Wexner understood it as a joke. The lawyer instructed Wexner to “reply the query,” drawing much more laughter.

Shortly earlier than this dialog, the lawyer had urged Wexner to “reply the query,” saying, “I am certain all of us respect the tales, we’re simply attempting to reply questions that they really need answered,” referring to the Home committee.

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Leslie Wexner, founding father of Victoria’s Secret and different style manufacturers, is talked about quite a few occasions within the DOJ’s recordsdata on Jeffrey Epstein. (Astrid Stawiarz/Getty Photos for Perfume Basis; Kevin Mazur/Getty Photos for Victoria’s Secret; Neil Rasmus/Patrick McMullan through Getty Photos)

The Oversight Committee heard from Wexner, a billionaire style mogul greatest recognized for his work in revolutionizing the Victoria’s Secret retail chain, about his involvement with Epstein, whom Wexner characterised as strictly a enterprise affiliate slightly than a detailed buddy.

Regardless of being named as a co-conspirator in a not too long ago found FBI doc from 2019, Wexner mentioned he was by no means contacted immediately by the FBI or the Justice Division. He maintained his complete innocence through the assertion, saying, “I used to be naive, silly and gullible to put any belief in Jeffrey Epstein. He was a con man. And although I used to be scammed, I did nothing mistaken and don’t have anything to cover. I utterly and irrevocably severed ties with Epstein nearly twenty years in the past once I realized he was an abuser, a criminal and a liar.”

The committee mentioned it was releasing the complete assertion with none distortion, saying, “The American folks should see the testimony for themselves – transparency is necessary.”

Wexner is the founding father of L Manufacturers, previously referred to as The Restricted, via which he acquired well-known firms Victoria’s Secret, Tub & Physique Works, Specific and Abercrombie & Fitch. He’s now not related to Victoria’s Secret. He was considered one of Epstein’s first main shoppers as a monetary advisor, with Epstein given energy of lawyer over Wexner’s huge wealth. Wexner additionally bought his Manhattan mansion to Epstein, which was later found to be one of many areas the place federal authorities accused Epstein of abusing younger ladies and women below the age of 18.

Regardless of this, Wexner acknowledged that he at all times saved his relationship with Epstein strictly skilled, saying, “I do not suppose I ever went to lunch, dinner, a film, or a cup of espresso with Jeffrey,” including, “My focus was on my enterprise and on the neighborhood.”

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L Manufacturers founder and former CEO Les Wexner speaks through the firm’s investor day on the retailer’s headquarters in New Albany, Ohio, on November 2, 2017. (Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK through Imagn Photos)

Wexner mentioned he minimize ties with Epstein in 2007 after studying of an investigation and discovering Epstein had embezzled cash from him and his household. He mentioned a good portion of the cash has been returned.

Wexner additionally testified that he was unaware that Epstein ever stayed at a visitor home on his property in New Albany, Ohio, the place Maria Farmer was allegedly abused by Epstein and affiliate Ghislaine Maxwell. He claimed he was solely conscious that Epstein was staying at a close-by neighbor’s dwelling. Requested if he denies Farmer’s testimony that she was abused on his property, he mentioned: “I by no means met her, did not know she was right here, did not know she was abused.”

He categorically denied any data that Epstein or Maxwell organized ladies for distinguished people. He additionally categorically denied ever having a sexual encounter with anybody launched by Maxwell and Epstein, or having a sexual relationship with Epstein himself.

He additional denied any sexual contact or data of one other distinguished Epstein sufferer, Virginia Giuffre.

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Jeffrey Epstein subsequent to Ghislaine Maxwell. (Patrick McMullan through Getty Photos)

Wexner was additionally requested about his data of the connection between Epstein and President Donald Trump. He mentioned he does not suppose they had been buddies, however mentioned Epstein “launched him as a buddy.”

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Committee members additionally questioned Wexner a few be aware he wrote in a birthday e-book to Epstein, by which he drew breasts with the caption: “Pricey Jeffrey, I wished to provide you what you need, so right here it’s… Your buddy, Leslie.”

Wexner confirmed that he wrote the be aware, however dismissed it, saying, “He was single, so I drew a pair of breasts as form of a joke, in passing I ought to say.”

Wexner is the fourth particular person to look earlier than the Home Oversight Committee in its Epstein investigation.

Liz Elkind of Fox Information Digital contributed to this report.