Ex-Victoria's Secret CEO's Lawyer Caught Joking About 'Killing' Him During Epstein Deposition

The exchange was caught on a hot mic during the nearly five-hour deposition before the House Oversight Committee.

Published on Feb. 28, 2026

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The lawyer for former Victoria's Secret CEO Les Wexner was caught on a hot mic jokingly threatening to "kill" Wexner if he continued giving long-winded answers during his deposition before the House Oversight Committee's probe into Jeffrey Epstein's network. The exchange, which Wexner appeared to take as a joke, occurred several hours into the nearly five-hour deposition, where Wexner maintained his innocence regarding his ties to Epstein.

Why it matters

The leaked exchange provides a rare glimpse into the tense dynamics between Wexner and his legal team as they navigated the high-profile congressional investigation into Epstein's activities and Wexner's potential involvement. It also raises questions about the conduct of lawyers during such high-stakes proceedings.

The details

During the deposition, Wexner's attorney was caught on a hot mic telling him, "I'm going to f---ing kill you if you answer another question with more than five words, okay?" Both Wexner and his attorney then laughed, indicating Wexner understood it as a joke. The lawyer proceeded to instruct Wexner to "answer the question," laughing more. The exchange came shortly after the attorney had urged Wexner to "answer the question" and not give such long-winded responses.

  • The deposition took place on February 20, 2026.

The players

Les Wexner

The former CEO of Victoria's Secret and founder of L Brands, who was deposed by the House Oversight Committee as part of its probe into Jeffrey Epstein's network.

Wexner's attorney

The lawyer representing Les Wexner during the deposition, who was caught on a hot mic jokingly threatening to "kill" Wexner if he continued giving long answers.

House Oversight Committee

The congressional committee conducting the investigation into Jeffrey Epstein's activities and network.

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What they’re saying

“I'm going to f---ing kill you if you answer another question with more than five words, okay?”

— Wexner's attorney (Hot mic recording)

“I was naïve, foolish, and gullible to put any trust in Jeffrey Epstein. He was a con man. And while I was conned, 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.”

— Les Wexner, Former CEO, Victoria's Secret (House Oversight Committee deposition)

What’s next

The House Oversight Committee stated it would continue its investigation into Epstein's network and any potential involvement of prominent individuals.

The takeaway

This incident highlights the high tensions and legal maneuvering that can occur during congressional investigations of powerful figures, even as those figures maintain their innocence. It raises questions about the appropriate conduct of lawyers and the need for transparency in such proceedings.