Epstein survivor slams Les Wexner’s ‘abhorrent’ testimony | EUROtoday

A survivor of Jeffrey Epstein’s abuse has spoken out towards billionaire Leslie Wexner, describing his latest deposition to members of Congress as “abhorrent.”

Wexner, the 88-year-old founding father of retail conglomerate L Brands, sat for an almost five-hour deposition Wednesday with members of the House Oversight Committee. Lawmakers subpoenaed Wexner after the most recent launch of the so-called Epstein recordsdata by the Department of Justice revealed new particulars about his relationship with the lifeless intercourse offender, who as soon as labored as his monetary adviser.

Appearing within the Epstein recordsdata doesn’t indicate wrongdoing, and Wexner has by no means been charged with a criminal offense. Wexner has additionally denied figuring out about Epstein’s felony exercise.

“I was naive, foolish, and gullible to put any trust in Jeffrey Epstein,” Wexner stated in a press release forward of the interview. “He was a con man. And while I was conned, I have done nothing wrong and have nothing to hide.”

Maria Farmer, who stated she was abused by Epstein and his convicted co-conspirator Ghislaine Maxwell at Wexner’s property a long time in the past, has now accused the retail mogul of “downplaying his relationship with Epstein” throughout his deposition.

“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,” Farmer stated in a press release shared with The Independent Saturday.

“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,” she added.

Farmer stated the abuse started 30 years in the past.

“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,” she stated. “Later that summer, while working and living on Wexner’s estate, I suffered abuse at the hands of Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell.”

Farmer’s assertion included a photograph of her driver’s license on the time, which seems to record an Ohio deal with.

She additionally stated Epstein stole images of her and her minor sisters, which she described as “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,” she added.

Farmer stated she ultimately escaped and reported Epstein and Maxwell to legislation enforcement.

“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,” she stated.

Farmer’s report back to the FBI was included in a trove of Epstein-related recordsdata launched late final yr. The doc reveals Farmer instructed the company Epstein stole images she had taken of her 12- and 16-year-old sisters. Farmer later stated in an interview this included nude images, in keeping with The New York Times

A spokesperson for Wexner directed The Independent to his opening assertion to the committee, throughout which he acknowledged “the survivors of Epstein’s terrible crimes and the devastation that each of them has endured as a result,” and stated his “heart goes out to each of them.”

“As Mr. Wexner testified, he never even heard of Maria Farmer until her account surfaced in the media,” the spokesperson instructed The Independent. “Ms. Farmer’s statement is incorrect in many respects. Contrary to her statement, Epstein’s house, where the abuse is said to have occurred, was not on land owned by the Wexners, was nearly one half mile away from the Wexner home, and was accessed through a separate driveway not controlled by Wexner security. There were no sharp shooters or guard dogs policing Epstein’s property.”

The Independent has requested further remark from a consultant for Farmer.

Wexner, the previous CEO of Victoria’s Secret, has stated he reduce ties with Epstein in 2007 after discovering the financier was stealing from him. Epstein pleaded responsible to state-level fees of soliciting prostitution in Florida in 2008.

He instructed lawmakers Wednesday he was “conned by the World Olympic, all-time con artist.”

“As far as I was concerned, once we knew how bad he was, he was dead,” he stated.

When requested about Farmer, Wexner replied: “I never met her, didn’t know she was here, didn’t know she was abused.”

The deposition additionally made headlines after Wexner’s lawyer, Michael Levy, was caught on a scorching mic telling him, “I will f***ing kill you if you answer another question with more than five words.”

The Independent has contacted Maxwell’s lawyer for remark.