...
By Hollie Silverman
News Editor
0
Share
Newsweek is a Trust Project member
See more of our trusted coverage when you search.Prefer Newsweek on Googleto see more of our trusted coverage when you search.
Maria Farmer, a survivor of Jeffrey Epstein who first reported him and his co-conspirator Ghislaine Maxwell to law enforcement in the 1990s, issued a statement on Saturday after billionaire Les Wexner sat for a closed-door deposition with House investigators in New Albany, Ohio.
Farmer said she was the artist-in-residence at Wexner's estate in 1996 and was abused by Epstein, a convicted sex offender, and Maxwell during that time.
"When I attempted to escape Wexner’s estate, I was threatened by his employees and associates, sharpshooters, guns and guard dogs, and held against my will," the statement said in part.
Read More on News
Farmer’s statement came as newly released Department of Justice (DOJ) records—commonly referred to as the Epstein files—have intensified scrutiny of Wexner’s role and prompted congressional review, while the DOJ said its broader review was complete and no further prosecutions are expected at this time
Wexner, the 88-year-old founder of L Brand, told lawmakers he was “duped by a world-class con man,” asserted he cut ties with Epstein in 2007, and said he never witnessed criminal activity.
Wexner has not been charged with a crime and being in the Epstein files is not indicative of a crime.
Why It Matters
Congress’s inquiry into Epstein’s network and the DOJ’s file releases have renewed questions about how a wealthy financier maintained influence for years despite prior investigations and a 2008 guilty plea of procuring a person under the age of 18 for prostitution and solicitation of prostitution, with survivors urging transparency and accountability.
Wexner’s testimony drew intense attention because he gave Epstein power of attorney in 1991 and maintained a long-running business relationship with him, while denying knowledge of any abuse.
Epstein died in jail in 2019 while awaiting trial on federal sex-trafficking charges while Maxwell is serving a 20-year sentence at a federal prison camp after being convicted for her role in luring teenage girls to be abused by Epstein. Congress has since required the DOJ to provide access to millions of pages of related records to lawmakers, including emails, draft charging documents, images, and network diagrams.
What To Know
Farmer released a statement on Saturday that was emailed to Newsweek in response to Wexner's deposition, alleging she was abused by Epstein and Maxwell while working as the artist-in-residence at Wexner's estate.
During that time, she said Epstein "stole photographs of my minor sisters and me, private anatomically-revealing photographs I used for artistic reference and kept numbered in a lockbox."
Farmer also shared an image of her Ohio license that had Wexner's address, which she said she obtained at his request.
Maria Farmer's Full Statement
“In the summer of 1996, I served as the artist-in-residence at Les Wexner’s estate. I was instructed to obtain a driver's license using the address of Wexner's home.
Later that summer, while working and living on Wexner’s estate, I suffered abuse at the hands of Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell. Epstein also stole photographs of my minor sisters and me, private anatomically-revealing photographs I used for artistic reference and kept numbered in a lockbox. When I attempted to escape Wexner’s estate, I was threatened by his employees and associates, sharpshooters, guns and guard dogs, and held against my will.
When I was able to escape, I reported Epstein and Maxwell to the FBI. I told the FBI about Epstein and Maxwell’s sexual abuse of me on Wexner’s estate, the theft there of the images, and being held on Wexner’s estate.
I am glad Wexner’s deposition, this lever of power, is being used to try to achieve some accountability and justice for the many survivors whose trauma has for so long been ignored, dismissed, or discounted. Wexner’s reported downplaying of his relationship with Epstein is abhorrent, particularly given Maxwell’s own description of him as Epstein’s closest friend. I am also troubled by Wexner’s stated lack of knowledge about my abuse and suffering on his property.”
...
Who Is Les Wexner?
Wexner built a retail empire that included The Limited, Victoria’s Secret, Abercrombie & Fitch, and Bath & Body Works, and used his wealth to shape development around Columbus and New Albany, Ohio, while engaging in high-profile philanthropy.
L Brands acquired Victoria’s Secret in 1982 before it separated from L Brands in 2021.
His long-running ties to Epstein—who held power of attorney and advised on finances and property acquisitions—have upended his legacy and triggered political fallout in Ohio.
What Happened at the Les Wexner Deposition?
Wexner sat for a roughly six-hour interview with the House Oversight Committee and said he had been “naive, foolish, and gullible” to trust Epstein.
He asserted he had “done nothing wrong” and had “nothing to hide,” according to a statement released before the session. The committee planned to release video and a transcript, and a senior Republican on the panel said Wexner “answered every question,” the Associated Press reported.
Wexner reiterated he severed ties with Epstein in 2007 after discovering misappropriation of funds, while records show the two communicated in 2008 following Epstein’s plea deal, which Wexner’s spokesperson said occurred after Epstein had been fired as adviser and removed from accounts, according to the report.
Who Is Referenced in the Epstein Files?
Wexner’s name appeared more than 1,000 times in the released records, which does not imply guilt, and he has not been charged.
President Donald Trump’s name appeared thousands of times in the files, and media tallies counted more than 38,000 mentions across sets of documents, while an NPR interview noted no survivor allegations against Trump among sources the guest had interviewed.
Other public figures referenced in emails or meetings included Bill Gates, Elon Musk, Ehud Barak, and others.
What People Are Saying
Les Wexner, prepared statement to the House Oversight Committee on Wednesday, as reported by NBC News: “I have done nothing wrong and have nothing to hide. I completely and irrevocably cut ties with Epstein nearly twenty years ago when I learned that he was an abuser, a crook, and a liar. And, let me be crystal clear: I never witnessed nor had any knowledge of Epstein’s criminal activity.”
Representative Ro Khanna, a California Democrat, on the House floor: “There were six wealthy, powerful men that the DOJ hid for no apparent reason. When Congressman Massie and I pointed this out to the Department of Justice, they acknowledged their mistake and now they have revealed the identities of these six powerful men. These men are: Salvatore Nuara, Zurab Mikeladze, Leonic Leonov, Nicola Caputo, Sultan Ahmed Bin Sulayem, and billionaire businessman Leslie Wexner, who was labeled as a ‘co-conspirator’ by the FBI.”
Representative Robert Garcia, California Democrat, a House Oversight member, to reporters after the deposition, as reported by AP: “There is no single person that was more involved in providing Jeffrey Epstein with the financial support to commit his crimes than Les Wexner.”
Representative James Comer, a Kentucky Republican, committee leader at the proceeding, on the session, per AP: "[Wexner] answered every question asked of him.”
What Happens Next
The House Oversight Committee has scheduled additional depositions with figures tied to Epstein’s network, including other high-profile witnesses, the AP reported.
In a polarized era, the center is dismissed as bland. At Newsweek, ours is different: The Courageous Center—it's not "both sides," it's sharp, challenging and alive with ideas. We follow facts, not factions. If that sounds like the kind of journalism you want to see thrive, we need you.
When you become a Newsweek Member, you support a mission to keep the center strong and vibrant. Members enjoy: Ad-free browsing, exclusive content and editor conversations. Help keep the center courageous. Join today.
View 0 Comments
Submit Correction
View Editorial & AI Guidelines