Leslie Herbert Wexner is an American billionaire businessman who founded L Brands (now Bath & Body Works, Inc.), the retail empire behind Victoria's Secret, Bath & Body Works, and other retail brands. Born September 8, 1937, Wexner built one of the most successful specialty retail companies in American history. His relationship with Jeffrey Epstein represents one of the most significant financial and personal associations in the Epstein archive: Wexner hired Epstein as his financial manager from 1987 to 2007 and granted him sweeping power of attorney over his finances, ultimately transferring hundreds of millions of dollars in assets to Epstein, including a Manhattan townhouse later valued at over $50 million.
The archive documents 19 emails between Wexner and Epstein spanning December 2005 to June 2008, though their professional relationship reportedly ended in 2007. The correspondence reveals ongoing contact after Wexner claimed to have severed ties, including a June 2008 exchange in which Wexner referenced Abigail told me the result...all I can say is I feel sorry. You violated your own number 1 rule...Always be careful — sent four days before Epstein's guilty plea to solicitation charges. Wexner later accused Epstein of misappropriating "vast sums of money" from him and his family, recovering approximately $46 million in 2008. However, FBI records from July 2019 document that Wexner's attorneys told federal investigators during an attorney proffer that Epstein had stolen "hundreds of thousands of dollars" — dramatically less than the "vast sums" Wexner publicly claimed.
Maria Farmer alleged that she was sexually assaulted by Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell in 1996 at a guest house on Wexner's Ohio estate. According to Farmer's amended complaint, after the assault she called police, who did not respond, then called her father for help. Wexner's security personnel held Maria against her will and did not let her leave the property for several hours, even after she pleaded with them and told them about her assault. Wexner has denied knowledge of the incident.
Background#
Leslie Herbert Wexner was born September 8, 1937, in Dayton, Ohio, to Harry and Bella Wexner, the son of Russian Jewish immigrants who operated a small clothing store. He founded The Limited in 1963 with a $5,000 loan from his aunt, focusing on fast-selling items like shirts and pants. The company went public in 1969 and expanded rapidly through the 1970s and 1980s, capitalizing on American mall culture.
In 1982, Wexner acquired Victoria's Secret for $1 million from founder Roy Raymond and transformed it into a global lingerie brand worth billions. Under his leadership, L Brands became a retail powerhouse that also included Bath & Body Works, Henri Bendel, and other specialty retailers. Wexner served as CEO for more than 50 years before stepping down in 2020. According to Forbes, he announced in 2020 that he would sell a majority stake in Victoria's Secret for $525 million to a private equity firm.
Wexner met Epstein in the mid-1980s through friends who recommended him as a financial professional, despite Epstein possessing no bachelor's degree and having previously been a high school math teacher. Wexner granted Epstein power of attorney in July 1991, giving him authority to hire people, sign checks, buy and sell properties, and borrow money on Wexner's behalf. According to a 2003 Vanity Fair profile, "Wexner trusts Epstein so completely that he has assigned him the power of fiduciary over all of his private trusts and foundations." A 2003 New York Magazine article noted that Epstein's business model required clients to grant him "total control" and "power of attorney to do whatever he thought was necessary to advance his client's financial cause."
In 1992, Epstein persuaded Wexner to replace his own mother Bella Wexner on the Wexner Foundation board. Bella recovered from illness and demanded to be reinstated; the dispute was resolved by splitting the foundation in two. This extraordinary displacement of Wexner's own mother demonstrates the depth of Epstein's influence over Wexner's personal and philanthropic affairs.
Epstein became the primary and often only publicly known client of Epstein's money-management firm. A 2003 New York Magazine profile described Wexner as one of Epstein's few confirmed clients, noting their close association. The same article stated that Epstein's company was "now called Financial Trust Co." and had been "reincorporated... seven years ago" (circa 1996) in St. Thomas, with a staff of "around 150" that was "purely administrative," including "20 accountants to keep the wheels greased and a bevy of assistants — many of them conspicuously attractive young women."
In August 2019, following Epstein's arrest on federal sex trafficking charges, Wexner released a letter stating that Epstein had "misappropriated vast sums of money" from him and his family, first discovered in 2007 when they separated. Wexner stated he was "NEVER aware of the illegal activity charged in the indictment" and that he was "deceived by Mr. Epstein." However, FBI Executive Summary records document that on July 25, 2019 — just 17 days after Epstein's arrest — FBI and SDNY prosecutors spoke by phone with attorneys from Debevoise & Plimpton who represented both Les and Abigail Wexner. During the attorney proffer, the Wexners' lawyers stated that the Wexners "were not close with Epstein and had no knowledge of his sexual misconduct," that "they severed ties with Epstein in 2007 after discovering that Epstein had stolen hundreds of thousands of dollars from them while managing their finances." The claim that Epstein stole "hundreds of thousands of dollars" contradicts Wexner's public assertion of "vast sums" and the $46 million in "returned monies" he later referenced.
In February 2026, newly unredacted FBI documents named Wexner among individuals the FBI labeled as Epstein co-conspirators in 2019, though Wexner's legal representative stated he was viewed as a source of information and not a target.
New Albany Development and Epstein's Partnership Interest#
Wexner was a principal figure in the development of New Albany, Ohio, an affluent planned community outside Columbus. According to court documents in the JPMorgan derivative litigation, "Wexner worked with prominent local executives, including future JPM directors James S. Crown and John W. Kessler and the McCoy family... to develop an idyllic community called New Albany, Ohio." The project initially struggled: "Its early development was exceedingly expensive and complex, and was mishandled by its original financial leadership."
The documents state that Epstein fundamentally restructured the project: "That changed after Epstein came along. Epstein was given a partnership interest in the New Albany project for a nominal investment. Epstein promptly re-organized and restructured the New Albany development project so it could take hold, be completed, and ultimately flourish." Epstein thus held a financial stake in the very community where his guest house — the site of Maria Farmer's alleged assault — was located. A 2003 New York Magazine article lists Epstein's business operations as spanning "Manhattan, St. Thomas, and New Albany, Ohio." The 2003 Vanity Fair profile references "Marshall Rose, who has worked with Epstein on projects in New Albany, Ohio, for Wexner."
The New Albany connection linked Epstein to future JPMorgan Chase board members. The JPMorgan complaint identifies John W. Kessler as "a well-connected and prominent corporate lawyer in Columbus, Ohio, who advised on a wide range of deals for Wexner, the McCoys, and the Crowns alike, and enjoyed a seat on the Bank One board." Kessler was "chairman of the New Albany Company" and "served on the board of Wexner's company, Abercrombie & Fitch." Epstein's draft notes from June 2014 reference "jack kessler, stanley, jerry" as "questionable as to unrelated third party," suggesting tensions over Epstein's role or conduct.
Victoria's Secret, Model Recruitment, and MC2 Model Management#
The archive contains extensive evidence connecting Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell to recruitment activities using Victoria's Secret as cover. Maria Farmer's original complaint and amended complaint state that Maxwell told her "she was 'recruiting models for Epstein'" and that "the girls were interviewing for modeling positions with Victoria's Secret." Maxwell would leave Epstein's Manhattan mansion "claiming she had 'to go get girls for Jeffrey' and referred to the girls she was recruiting as 'nubiles.'"
A document provided to House Oversight investigators — attributed to author James Patterson — states: "For Jeffrey Epstein, Leslie Wexner is more than a mentor... Wexner is also a steady, if indirect, source of beautiful women. After all, Wexner is the man in charge of Victoria's Secret... What this means for Epstein is models galore. In fact, like a fox that's gotten hold of the lease to a henhouse, Epstein, according to evidence collected in a later lawsuit brought by Epstein victims, eventually provided financial support for a modeling agency, and provided support for models employed by that agency, in New York City." The document identifies the agency as MC2 Model Management, owned by Jean-Luc Brunel.
The JPMorgan derivative complaint references an internal March 2011 JPMorgan report that stated: "a company named 'MC2 Model Management and Jeffrey Epstein engaged in racketeering that involved luring in minor children for sexual play for money,' and that MC2 Model Management's owner was a 'frequent passenger on Epstein's private jet and often visited Epstein in jail.'"
A New York Times article preserved in the archive notes: "The New York Times reported last month that company executives in the mid-1990s had learned that Mr. Epstein was trying to pitch himself as a recruiter for Victoria's Secret models." The article also reports that Ed Razek, Victoria's Secret's "longtime chief marketing officer, was retiring" in August 2019, contemporaneous with the Epstein scandal. The 2003 Vanity Fair profile observed: "Model types have been heard saying they are full of gratitude to Epstein for flying them around, and he is a familiar face to many of the Victoria's Secret girls."
FBI records document that in 2004, a 16-year-old model was "introduced to Epstein. On multiple occasions, she went to Epstein's Manhattan residence to engage in sexualized massages in exchange for money." The FBI identified "approximately 60 victims, with potentially hundreds unidentified" who "reported being sexually abused at multiple residences, including New York, Florida, Little St. James, and New Mexico."
L Brands Executive Awareness#
The archive demonstrates that L Brands executives were aware of Epstein's activities by the mid-1990s. The New York Times article confirms that "company executives in the mid-1990s had learned that Mr. Epstein was trying to pitch himself as a recruiter for Victoria's Secret models."
Email correspondence shows Epstein was deeply embedded in L Brands corporate governance. In a December 2005 email, Epstein wrote to Wexner: "a vorys partner went to walter out of concern for you" and discussed personnel at the company, referencing "Len" and "glazbrooks team." Another email thread shows Epstein discussing "eddy lambert (sears)" and noting "Tudor fund is paul jones," demonstrating his knowledge of L Brands' corporate circles and major investors. Eddie Lampert was the hedge fund manager who controlled Sears/Kmart and was a prominent figure in retail finance.
An L Brands 2006 Annual Report was found in the Epstein archive, showing Epstein possessed internal corporate documents.
The Ohio Estate and Maria Farmer's Assault#
Maria Farmer's amended complaint describes working on Wexner's Ohio estate for two months over the summer of 1996. The guest house where she stayed was described as "30,000 square foot" and located on "Leslie Wexner's Ohio estate." According to the complaint, Epstein requested a foot massage, then invited Maria to the bed where Maxwell joined them and they "violently sexually assaulted Maria."
The original complaint provides additional detail: "Maria fled from the room and called the police. But the police did not respond to her. Desperate for help, Maria then called her father for help. Despite demanding to be allowed to leave the property, Wexner's security personnel held Maria against her will and did not let her leave the property for several hours, even after she pleaded with them and told them about her assault. They eventually let Maria leave with her father, who had driven from Kentucky to Ohio to get Maria away from Epstein and Maxwell."
This allegation directly implicates Wexner's own security staff in detaining a sexual assault victim who had reported the crime and requested to leave. The complaint states that local police did not respond to Maria's call, and only after hours of detention by Wexner's security personnel was she permitted to leave with her father.
The amended complaint also details the assault of Maria's younger sister, Annie Farmer. According to the filing, Epstein "began to call Annie and Maria's mother" and "convinced Annie's mother to allow Annie to fly to his ranch in New Mexico." At age 16, Annie was groomed and assaulted at Epstein's ranch in New Mexico by both Maxwell and Epstein.
Correspondence with Epstein#
The archive contains 19 emails between Wexner and Epstein from December 2005 to June 2008. Eighteen were sent to Wexner at his L Brands email address ([email protected]); only one was from Wexner to Epstein. The correspondence continued through June 2008, contradicting Wexner's public statements that their relationship ended in 2007 and the FBI proffer claim that they "severed ties with Epstein in 2007."
The correspondence documents Epstein's role as financial and strategic advisor to Wexner. In May 2007, during what appears to have been a corporate crisis at L Brands, Epstein sent multiple emails offering counsel. He wrote: just a tiny dray,,, mighty mouse sold your interest in alliance data,, (it had topped out).. left hundreds of millions on the table, did want proton therapy,( your friend jeffrey is screwing up the deal). we should not buy a 10% stake in Amaxon for 90 million, as it is virtually impossible . for it to make money. I've done the spreadsheets, Dennis hersch doesn't belong on the board. He has NO judgement.. BE careful.!! The message reveals Epstein's deep involvement in Wexner's business decisions and his willingness to critique other advisors. "Dennis hersch" appears to be Dennis Hersch, a board member or advisor. "Mighty mouse" appears to be a nickname for another advisor who handled the Alliance Data transaction.
During the same period, Epstein offered strategy on what appear to be activist investor pressures. He advised: re alternative proposals,,I think knowing when you are winning comes to mind and proposed visiting to discuss next steps. On corporate buybacks, he wrote: re; accelerated buyback program.... I'm sorry , but I think the co. has already exceeded it's allocation of steps to make it appear goofy. He counseled: I recognize this is an emotional time, I understand.,, Eddy is a champ.and I can only echo his sentiments and sincerity, . I'm at the island over the weekend.. call anytime, re; authorize a large buyback(500m+) quickly,monday?, review the actual reaction vs your advisors outlandish predictions i.e. ,they have consistantly been, and still are, completely out of touch !!! "Eddy" in this context refers to Eddie Lampert, the Sears/Kmart hedge fund manager, as confirmed by Epstein's reference in the same email thread to "eddy lambert (sears)."
The correspondence also documents personal closeness and family intimacy. In February 2006, following what appears to have been a family gathering, Epstein wrote: that was really funn...watching your kids, with you, at lunch was a real treat......eva also thought your kids were amazing.... IF inadvertantly I've done something to either disappoint you , or disturb you, I would like to apologize, I can't figure it out/ i miss spending time with you and your family.. In December 2005, Wexner's son Harry Wexner had sent Epstein an email referencing "Uncle Jeffrey," asking "what with Boris and Natasha???and is Uncle Jeffrey..Rocky or Bullwinkle??" The "Uncle Jeffrey" reference demonstrates that Wexner's children were encouraged to view Epstein as family.
In the same December 2005 email thread, Epstein positioned himself as one of the very few to still have your ear, discussing internal L Brands personnel matters and expressing concerns about individuals he characterized as disloyal to Wexner.
The most striking exchange occurred in June 2008, after Epstein's 2008 guilty plea was finalized in Florida. On June 26, 2008, Wexner wrote: Abigail told me the result...all I can say is I feel sorry. You violated your own number 1 rule...Always be careful. Epstein replied: no excuse. This exchange, sent four days before Epstein's guilty plea to state charges of solicitation of prostitution, demonstrates that Wexner and Epstein remained in contact well past the 2007 separation Wexner publicly described. The reference to "Abigail told me the result" indicates that Abigail Wexner served as an intermediary, informing Les of Epstein's legal outcome and tracking the proceedings.
In September 2006, following what appears to have been negative press coverage of Epstein's arrest, Epstein wrote: hope everythings ok.., SOrry for the press intrusion, easy fast... A JPMorgan derivative complaint notes that "A September 2006 New York Times article about Epstein's arrest for soliciting a minor for prostitution triggered emails among JPM executives, including Erdoes, where she observed (sarcastically) that Epstein was 'a lovely guy to work with.'" The New York Times article confirms: "In early 2006, Florida authorities charged Mr. Epstein with multiple counts of molestation and unlawful sexual activity with a minor." The September 2006 email thus represents Epstein apologizing to Wexner for press coverage that would embarrass Wexner by association — more than a year before the claimed 2007 separation.
In February 2007, Epstein forwarded Wexner an inventory of marina properties owned by an Epstein associate, writing: thought you might find what we own interesting. The list included properties in St. Thomas, St. Maarten, the Bahamas, and other locations.
In September 2010, Epstein's assistant Lesley Groff contacted Wexner's office seeking his email address. Rachel Sutherland at Wexner's office would not confirm the correct email, suggesting active gatekeeping and attempts to block Epstein's contact after the 2008 guilty plea.
Connections#
Within Epstein's network, Wexner's connection was primarily one-to-one with Epstein himself, though the correspondence references Wexner's wife Abigail Wexner, who appears to have served as an intermediary in at least one instance. The archive also documents Epstein's interactions with various L Brands executives and advisors, though these appear in separate threads. Wexner's relationship with Epstein connected him to figures including John W. Kessler, the Columbus attorney and New Albany Company chairman; James S. Crown, who would later serve on the JPMorgan Chase board; and Eddie Lampert, the hedge fund manager who controlled Sears.
Document References#
Wexner appears extensively in legal documents and investigative materials. His name appears in Epstein's personal address book, described by media as the "Holy Grail" of famous names. Court filings in Maria Farmer v. Indyke & Kahn allege that Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell sexually assaulted Farmer while she was working on an art project at Epstein's guest house on Wexner's Ohio estate in summer 1996. The amended complaint specifies that Epstein and Maxwell flew Maria to Ohio as part of her employment duties and violently sexually assaulted her while she was working on an art project at Epstein's guest house on Leslie Wexner's Ohio estate.
In derivative litigation against JPMorgan Chase, court documents describe Wexner as Epstein's principal client and detail the financial relationship, including Epstein's power of attorney and control over vast Wexner assets. The complaint states that Epstein held "the man who served as power of attorney for Wexner (a known JPM billionaire client)" and references Epstein's accounts holding "$120mm or so" at JPMorgan in 2008.
A New York Times article preserved in the archive documents Wexner's August 2019 accusation that Epstein had "misappropriated vast sums of money" from him and his family, first discovered in 2007 during their separation. The article states that Wexner gave Epstein "wide powers over his finances, philanthropy and private life," including power of attorney that "enabled Mr. Epstein to hire people, sign checks, buy and sell properties, and borrow money — all on Mr. Wexner's behalf." Wexner recovered "a portion of the returned monies," including approximately $46 million transferred in 2008 from entities controlled by Epstein (C.O.U.Q. Foundation and Financial Trust Co.) to a foundation run by Wexner's wife Abigail — the YLK Charitable Fund. Wexner characterized the $46 million as representing funds that were "originally Wexner family money."
However, FBI Executive Summary records document that Wexner's attorneys told federal investigators during a July 25, 2019 attorney proffer that Epstein had stolen "hundreds of thousands of dollars" — a figure dramatically smaller than the "vast sums" publicly claimed and inconsistent with the $46 million in "returned monies."
Multiple draft notes recovered from Epstein's accounts, dated June 2014, contain fragmentary references to Wexner. One reads: necklaace . mother suicide sharon, taxes, new albany, bankrupt, never ever, did anything without informing les. A more complete version states: necklaace . mother suicide sharon, taxes, new albany, bankrupt, never ever, did anything without informing les. questionable as to unrelated third party, jack kessler, stanley, jerry, , my personal. taken advantage of, understand scared, i would never put les in arms way. He never called. The notes appear to be talking points Epstein prepared, possibly for his own defense or for negotiations, referencing his claim that he consulted Wexner on all significant matters. The "mother" reference likely refers to Bella Wexner, whom Epstein displaced from the Wexner Foundation board in 1992. "Jack kessler" is almost certainly John W. Kessler, the Columbus attorney, chairman of the New Albany Company, and Bank One/JPMorgan board member deeply connected to Wexner. "Stanley," "Jerry," and "Sharon" remain unidentified. The "suicide" reference is unexplained in the archive.
A 2003 New York Magazine profile preserved in the archive describes Wexner as Epstein's primary known client and details their close relationship. The profile states that Epstein was "said to run $15 billion for wealthy clients, yet aside from Limited founder Leslie Wexner, his client list is a closely held secret." The article notes: "assuming, conservatively, a fee of .5 percent... on $15 billion, that makes for a management fee of $75 million a year straight into Jeff Epstein's pocket."
A 2003 Vanity Fair profile provides extensive detail on the Wexner-Epstein relationship, including Epstein's statement that he "had wide latitude to act on my behalf with respect to my personal finances."
A 2018 due diligence report created by BIS-RESEARCH for Deutsche Bank investigated "SOUTHERN TRUST CO; SOUTHERN FINANCIAL LLC; DARREN K INDYKE; RICHARD KAHN; JEFFREY E EPSTEIN; JEFFREY EDWARD EPSTEIN," confirming these entities were connected and investigated as part of anti-money laundering compliance.
Court filings in Jane Doe 17's case name entity defendants including "Financial Trust Company, Inc., NES LLC, Maple, Inc., LSJE, LLC, HBRK Associates, Inc., Nautilus, Inc., Cypress, Inc. and JEGE, Inc.," demonstrating the extensive web of Epstein-controlled entities connected to the financial architecture of the Wexner relationship.
Visits to Epstein Properties#
The archive documents that Wexner himself purchased and lived in the property that became Epstein's primary base of operations for abuse. The 2003 Vanity Fair profile describes the Manhattan townhouse at 9 East 71st Street as having been purchased by "Wexner, through a trust" for "$13.2 million in 1989." Wexner and his first wife lived in the townhouse from 1989 until his 1993 marriage to Abigail Koppel. The profile states: "In 1993, Wexner married Abigail Koppel... and the newlyweds relocated to Ohio; in 1996, Epstein moved into the town house." The 2003 New York Magazine article notes: "One story has Epstein paying only a dollar for it, though others say he paid full market price."
The correspondence references Epstein being "at the island over the weekend" in May 2007 while offering to take a call from Wexner, but does not document Wexner traveling there. The February 2006 email documents an in-person lunch where Epstein "watch[ed] your kids, with you" and describes the meeting as "a real treat," confirming family socialization that included Wexner's children. No visits to Epstein's island, New Mexico ranch, Paris apartment, or Palm Beach residence are directly documented in the email archive reviewed.
Criminal Activity#
Jmail believes society has a moral obligation to fully investigate all potential perpetrators in Epstein's extensive network.
The archive documents a financial relationship between Wexner and Epstein involving transfers of hundreds of millions of dollars in assets. Wexner purchased a Manhattan townhouse in 1989 for $13.2 million and later transferred it to an entity controlled by Epstein; the property was ultimately valued at over $56 million. According to city records, Wexner purchased the property from the Birch Wathen School in 1989 and sold it in 1998 to a Virgin Islands entity called NES, with which Epstein was affiliated. In 2011, the company Wexner had used to purchase the townhouse transferred it to Epstein's Virgin Islands-based Maple Inc. for $0.
Wexner granted Epstein power of attorney in July 1991 and appointed him trustee of a family property trust that same year. Wexner-backed entities financed a charity called C.O.U.Q. Foundation, which Epstein controlled, accepting $11.2 million from the Wexner Children's Trust in 2002 and $10 million from the Leslie H. Wexner Charitable Fund in 2004. In 2008, Epstein's entities transferred approximately $46 million to the YLK Charitable Fund founded by Wexner's wife Abigail — which Wexner characterized as "a portion of the returned monies" representing "originally Wexner family money." An independent review commissioned by the Wexner Foundation found that Leslie and Abigail Wexner "never knew about or authorized" transfers of their family's assets to C.O.U.Q. in 2001 and 2003.
The financial structure extended to a network of entities. A 2018 due diligence report investigated Southern Trust Co. alongside Epstein and his attorneys Darren Indyke and Richard Kahn as connected entities. Jane Doe 17's complaint names Financial Trust Company, Inc., NES LLC, Maple Inc., LSJE LLC, HBRK Associates Inc., Nautilus Inc., Cypress Inc., and JEGE Inc. as entity defendants, revealing the extensive web of corporate structures.
These patterns of asset transfers — a Manhattan townhouse worth tens of millions of dollars, power of attorney arrangements, and tens of millions of dollars flowing through Epstein-controlled entities — constitute financial structures within the scope of 18 U.S.C. §§ 1956-1957 (money laundering) when used to facilitate or conceal proceeds of illegal activity.
Ohio Estate Assault and Detention
Court filings allege that Epstein maintained a guest house on Wexner's Ohio estate where he committed sexual assault. Maria Farmer's complaint against the Epstein estate alleges that in summer 1996, while working for Epstein as an aspiring artist, she was "violently sexually assaulted" by Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell at Epstein's 30,000 square foot guest house on Wexner's Ohio estate. The complaint states Farmer "began working for Epstein in his Manhattan mansion" and was later flown to Ohio, where she "worked on Wexner's estate for two months over the summer of 1996."
According to the original complaint: "Maria fled from the room and called the police. But the police did not respond to her. Desperate for help, Maria then called her father for help. Despite demanding to be allowed to leave the property, Wexner's security personnel held Maria against her will and did not let her leave the property for several hours, even after she pleaded with them and told them about her assault. They eventually let Maria leave with her father, who had driven from Kentucky to Ohio to get Maria away from Epstein and Maxwell."
This allegation that Wexner's own security personnel physically detained a sexual assault victim after she reported the crime and demanded to leave constitutes potential evidence of facilitation of sex trafficking within the scope of 18 U.S.C. § 1591 (sex trafficking), 18 U.S.C. § 1589 (forced labor through serious harm), and 18 U.S.C. § 2 (aiding and abetting). Providing property where sex trafficking occurred, particularly when the property owner's security personnel allegedly detained a victim, constitutes facilitation within the scope of these statutes, though Wexner has publicly denied any knowledge of this incident.
Timeline Contradictions
The timeline of Wexner's claimed separation from Epstein contradicts the archive evidence:
- 1996: Maria Farmer reports her assault on Wexner's Ohio estate to authorities
- Early 2006: Florida authorities charge Epstein with multiple counts of molestation and unlawful sexual activity with a minor
- September 2006: Epstein apologizes to Wexner for "press intrusion" following New York Times coverage of his arrest
- 2007: Wexner claims he discovered Epstein's theft and severed ties
- May 2007: Extensive email correspondence shows Epstein advising Wexner on corporate strategy, board composition, and major investment decisions
- June 2008: Wexner sends message expressing sympathy after Epstein's guilty plea — "Abigail told me the result...all I can say is I feel sorry"
- 2008: $46 million transferred from Epstein-controlled entities to Abigail Wexner's YLK Charitable Fund
- July 2019: Wexner's attorneys tell FBI that Epstein stole "hundreds of thousands of dollars" (contradicting public claims of "vast sums")
- August 2019: Wexner publicly claims Epstein "misappropriated vast sums of money"
The continued email contact through June 2008, the $46 million transfer in 2008, and the discrepancy between the FBI proffer amount and public statements raise significant questions about the nature and timing of the separation.
For a comprehensive overview of potentially applicable criminal statutes in matters involving Epstein's network, see Potentially Relevant Criminal Statutes.