Epstein files show DOJ redacted Les Wexner, lawmakers say
The Epstein files, accountability and what lawmakers can do
There are a few routes lawmakers can take to act on the Epstein files. USA TODAY’s Aysha Bagchi explains.
- Ohio billionaire Les Wexner’s name was initially redacted in some recently released Jeffrey Epstein files.
- The Department of Justice un-redacted Wexner’s name, stating it already appears thousands of times in the documents.
- Wexner’s representatives maintain he was unaware of Epstein’s crimes and cooperated with investigators.
Correction: A previous version of this story misstated where Tom Massie lives. His congressional district is in Kentucky.
Ohio retail billionaire Les Wexner’s name may appear more than previously known in the Jeffrey Epstein files released by the Department of Justice in recent weeks.
Epstein, who died by suicide in 2019 awaiting trial on charges of sex trafficking minors, previously worked as Wexner’s financial adviser. Wexner said he severed ties with Epstein in 2007. In 2025, Congress passed a law ordering the DOJ to release millions of files on Epstein.
While victims’ names have been redacted, members of Congress have pointed to at least a few cases where the names of men associated with Epstein were also redacted. One of them was Wexner.
U.S. Rep. Tom Massie, R-Kentucky, posted a document on X on Feb. 9 that referred to a “well-known retired CEO” who was living in Ohio. In his social media post, Massie called on the DOJ to un-redact the document.
Hours later, Deputy U.S. Attorney General Todd Blanch posted to X that the redaction of Les Wexner’s name had been removed from the document, which appeared to label Wexner as a “co-conspirator.” Blanche also wrote that Wexner’s name “already appears in the files thousands of times. DOJ is hiding nothing.”
Representatives for Wexner have long denied the Ohio retail mogul had any knowledge of Epstein’s crimes. Wexner has said he cut Epstein off in 2007 when he was being investigated for solicitation in Florida, though records have shown the two communicated in 2008 as well. Documents the Justice Department released show that Wexner attorneys said Epstein stole hundreds of millions of dollars from Wexner.
“The Assistant U.S. Attorney told Mr. Wexner’s legal counsel in 2019 that Mr. Wexner was neither a co-conspirator nor target in any respect. Mr. Wexner cooperated fully by providing background information on Epstein and was never contacted again,” a spokesperson for Wexner told The Dispatch again on Feb. 10.
U.S. Rep. Jamie Raskin, D-Maryland, also told reporters that multiple “mysterious redactions” were made by the DOJ to the files it released on Epstein, according to reporting in The Guardian on Feb. 9 . Raskin noted Wexner’s name as one of those redaction.
Members of Congress are allowed to view largely unredacted versions of the files released to the general public on Epstein. Raskin told The Guardian that he wanted to see the unredacted files to understand how the DOJ handled its redaction process.
Rep. Robert Garcia, D-California, who serves as ranking member of the U.S. House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform posted to X on Feb. 10 calling Wexner an “Epstein billionaire co-conspirator.”
Garcia wrote that Democrats on the committee forced a subpoena compelling Wexner to testify. Wexner is set to be deposed by the committee Feb. 18.
What do we know about Wexner in the Epstein files?
This isn’t the first time Wexner’s name has come up as a potential co-conspirator in the Epstein files released by the DOJ.
An email released Dec. 23 that was sent by an FBI agent in New York on July 7, 2019, listed Wexner and asked for an “an update on the status of the 10 co-conspirators.”
An Aug. 15, 2019, FBI email released Jan. 30 also labeled Wexner and others as “secondary co-conspirators.” But the email said only that there was “limited evidence regarding his involvement,” that investigators were in touch with Wexner’s attorney and a subpoena had been served.
Wexner also is listed in a December 19, 2019, memo written by assistant U.S. attorneys titled “Investigation into potential co-conspirators of Jeffrey Epstein.” The memo details Wexner’s fallout with Epstein in 2007.
In each instance, Wexner has been mentioned alongside other Epstein associates, such as Ghislaine Maxwell, who is currently serving time in federal prison for her involvement in Epstein’s crimes.
Representatives for Wexner have long pointed to a 2019 news conference in which Brad Edwards, an attorney who has represented a number of Epstein accusers, said that he had doubts about claims that Wexner was aware of Epstein’s crimes. Edwards called Wexner’s denial that he knew about Epstein’s activities “very highly likely to be true.”
Wexner had previously said that one of the reasons he severed ties with Epstein was because he discovered his former financial adviser had stolen millions from his family. Wexner’s attorneys told the U.S. Attorney’s office that Epstein eventually repaid $100 million to the Wexners, according to an investigative memo released by the DOJ.
“That misconduct, together with fees that Epstein paid himself for his services to Wexner, appears to account for virtually all of Epstein’s wealth,” according to the memo.
Wexner and Epstein had a long and close relationship.
In an undated draft letter from Epstein to Wexner after their falling out. Epstein wrote that he and the Ohio billionaire were indebted to each other and that they shared “gang stuff” for 15 years.
In the letter, Epstein also wrote that he had “sat with Abigail,” who asked questions and made what he described as “unfair, aggressive and false accusations.” While Epstein wrote that he answered some of those questions, he said he couldn’t answer them fully “without violating a confidence with you.”
“It appears Epstein was furious that Mr. Wexner refused to meet with him years after Mr. Wexner terminated Epstein and cut off all ties with him following Mr. Wexner’s discovery of Epstein’s theft and criminal conduct,” a Wexner representative said in a prepared statement. “The draft appears to fit a pattern of untrue, outlandish, and delusional statements made by Epstein in desperate attempts to perpetuate his lies and justify his misconduct.”
This story was updated with additional information.
Dispatch investigative reporter Max Filby can be reached by email at [email protected]. Find him on X at the handle @MaxFilby or on Facebook at @ReporterMaxFilby.
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