Congressional Democrats Depose Retail Mogul Wexner on Epstein Ties

House Democrats hold press conference after questioning Ohio billionaire about his relationship with accused sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein.

Published on Feb. 23, 2026

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In a dramatic turn of events, members of the U.S. House Democrats, including Reps. Robert Garcia, Stephen Lynch, Jasmine Crockett, Yasmin Ansari, and Dave Min, deposed Ohio retail mogul Les Wexner on Wednesday, February 18, 2026 about his former financial adviser and accused child sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein. The deposition, originally scheduled to take place in a closed-door meeting in Washington, D.C., was moved to Wexner's estate in New Albany, Ohio. Following the deposition, the congressional representatives held a press conference in an empty lot in downtown New Albany to discuss their findings.

Why it matters

Wexner's close ties to Epstein have long been a source of controversy, with questions swirling around the nature of their relationship and Wexner's potential knowledge of Epstein's alleged criminal activities. The deposition marks a significant step in the ongoing congressional investigation into Epstein's sex trafficking network and the individuals who may have enabled or been complicit in his crimes.

The details

According to the congressional representatives, Wexner was subpoenaed to appear before the committee in Washington, D.C., but the location of the deposition was ultimately changed to his estate in New Albany. The lawmakers stated that they questioned Wexner extensively about his financial and personal relationship with Epstein, as well as any potential knowledge or involvement in Epstein's alleged sex trafficking activities.

  • Wexner was originally ordered to appear before the committee in a closed-door meeting in Washington, D.C. on February 18, 2026.
  • The deposition was ultimately held at Wexner's estate in New Albany, Ohio on February 18, 2026.

The players

Rep. Robert Garcia

A member of the U.S. House Democrats who participated in the deposition of Les Wexner.

Rep. Stephen Lynch

A member of the U.S. House Democrats who participated in the deposition of Les Wexner.

Rep. Jasmine Crockett

A member of the U.S. House Democrats who participated in the deposition of Les Wexner.

Rep. Yasmin Ansari

A member of the U.S. House Democrats who participated in the deposition of Les Wexner.

Rep. Dave Min

A member of the U.S. House Democrats who participated in the deposition of Les Wexner.

Les Wexner

An Ohio retail mogul who was deposed by the U.S. House Democrats about his relationship with the late Jeffrey Epstein.

Jeffrey Epstein

A former financial adviser to Les Wexner who was accused of child sex trafficking before his death in 2019.

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What they’re saying

“We must get to the bottom of Wexner's ties to Epstein and uncover the full truth about their relationship.”

— Rep. Robert Garcia (Columbus Dispatch)

“Wexner's deposition was an important step in our investigation, but there is still much more work to be done.”

— Rep. Jasmine Crockett (Columbus Dispatch)

What’s next

The congressional committee plans to review the information gathered during Wexner's deposition and determine if further action, such as additional testimony or document requests, is necessary to fully understand the nature of his relationship with Jeffrey Epstein.

The takeaway

This high-profile deposition underscores the ongoing efforts by congressional Democrats to investigate the web of connections between powerful individuals and the late Jeffrey Epstein, whose alleged sex trafficking crimes have cast a long shadow. The Wexner case highlights the challenges of unraveling complex financial and personal relationships in pursuit of accountability and justice.