les-wexner abigail-wexner ohio mega-donor republican limited-brands l-brands victoria-secret epstein columbus new-albany retail wexner-foundation israel osu jobsohio data-centers class-analysis follow-the-money
related: Husted DeWine Trump Jeffrey Epstein Network Kasich
Who They Are
Leslie Herbert Wexner (born September 8, 1937) founded The Limited in 1963 with a $5,000 loan from his aunt, growing it into one of America’s largest retail empires. At its peak, L Brands controlled Victoria’s Secret, Bath & Body Works, Abercrombie & Fitch, Lane Bryant, and The Limited. Wexner stepped down as L Brands CEO in February 2020 under shareholder pressure related to the Epstein scandal, and resigned as chair of the Columbus Partnership in 2021. As of 2026, his net worth stands at approximately $9 billion, making him Ohio’s wealthiest individual.
Ohio State University 1959 graduate; Board of Trustees chairman (served multiple terms). His wife, Abigail Koppel Wexner, is an attorney and philanthropist who has served as a board member at Nationwide Children’s Hospital since 1993. They have operated as split-ticket major donors: Les primarily to Republicans, Abigail to Democrats — a classic both-sides access strategy that preserves influence regardless of which party controls power.
Wexner’s political power operates across multiple structural vectors: direct campaign contributions ($5.3 million combined 1980–2022), institutional control (OSU Board of Trustees chairmanship, $200+ million in gifts establishing permanent naming rights), infrastructure control (New Albany private municipality with 11,000 residents, Easton Town Center retail complex, data center subsidies worth billions in foregone tax revenue), and international soft power (the Wexner Foundation’s training pipeline of 650+ senior Israeli officials at Harvard Kennedy School).
His political legacy is inseparable from his relationship with Jeffrey Epstein, who served as his personal financial manager from the mid-1980s until at least 2008. Wexner granted Epstein power of attorney over his $4.6 billion fortune (1991), transferred the Manhattan townhouse at 9 East 71st Street to him, and enabled Epstein’s financial accumulation and access to ultra-wealthy networks. Wexner later claimed Epstein “misappropriated vast sums” — with Rep. Robert Garcia estimating over $1 billion flowed to Epstein through various mechanisms. The relationship has become central to multiple ongoing investigations, and Wexner’s name appears over 4,000 times in the unredacted Epstein files released in February 2026.
What They Want
Infrastructure subsidies for capital expansion: Direct state and local funding for real estate, retail, and data center empire buildout (Easton Town Center highway interchange, New Albany development model, Amazon/Meta/Google/Microsoft/Intel data centers in New Albany). These are not market-driven investments but resource extraction arrangements disguised as economic development.
Tax abatement and incentive regimes: Ohio state policy favorable to corporate expansion through JobsOhio ($1.4 billion in incentives, $1.6 billion in lost tax revenue from data center exemptions), property tax abatements, sales tax exemptions, and regulatory capture of the state’s development infrastructure. The goal is to establish a permanent governance structure where public resources flow to private projects without elected accountability.
Ohio Republican political machine maintenance: Funding Republican candidates and party infrastructure to preserve the political environment that enables the above subsidies — creating a revolving door between Wexner’s interests and state power. When Republicans control the legislature and governorship, Wexner’s agenda moves forward.
Institutional capture of Ohio State University: Board control, permanent naming rights across campus buildings, influence over research infrastructure and medical center operations, and protection of OSU’s status as a major employer and driver of Columbus economic development — all benefiting New Albany’s proximity to the university.
Israel policy influence and soft power: Training senior Israeli officials (Directors General of government ministries, IDF officers, judges, hospital directors) at Harvard Kennedy School through the Wexner Foundation creates long-term political relationships with Israeli government leadership and positions the Wexner Foundation as an intermediary between U.S. and Israeli policy networks.
Post-Epstein reputation rehabilitation and political re-entry: Following the 2019 Epstein scandal and the February 2026 unredaction of Wexner’s name in FBI co-conspirator documents, attempting to maintain political relationships, preserve institutional naming rights, avoid criminal liability, and restore his image as a civic benefactor rather than an enabler of trafficking.
Who They Fund
Combined Political Giving: $5.3 million+ (1980–2022)
According to OpenSecrets, Les and Abigail Wexner combined contributed over $5.3 million to state and federal political campaigns and party organizations from 1980 through 2022. Federal contributions peaked in the 2018 cycle when Wexner ranked #350 among all individual federal donors, giving $314,900 total — $297,200 to Republicans, $2,700 to Democrats. Political giving sharply declined after 2019 when the Epstein scandal became public, but Wexner donated $250,000 to the NRSC in 2025 — a significant re-entry attempt before the February 2026 full unredaction of his FBI co-conspirator designation.
Federal Contributions (Selected, 1980–2026)
Large PAC and committee transfers:
- 2025: National Republican Senatorial Committee — $250,000
- June 2018: Republican Governors Association — $250,000
- Since 2016: NRCC (National Republican Congressional Committee) — $236,300+
- Through 2019: PORT PAC (Portman Leadership PAC) — channeled to Ted Cruz ($10,000), Josh Hawley ($10,000), Rick Scott ($5,000), Lindsey Graham ($5,000), and Donald Trump’s 2020 campaign ($10,000)
Individual candidate contributions (recent cycles):
- 2025: Sen. Jon Husted (OH-R) — $3,500
- 2025: Sen. Bernie Moreno (OH-R) — $3,500
- 2025: Rep. Mike Carey (OH-R) — $3,300
- 2025: Rep. Joyce Beatty (OH-D) — $3,500
- Since 2000: Sen. Rob Portman (OH-R) — $16,000+
- 1994–2022: Gov./AG Mike DeWine (OH-R) — $88,000+ total
- 2014: Sen. Lindsey Graham (SC-R) — $2,500
- 2018 cycle: Rep. Joyce Beatty (OH-D) — $5,800
Abigail Wexner’s Democratic Giving
Abigail Wexner has operated as an independent major donor, primarily to Democrats, establishing bipartisan household access:
- 2020: Democratic Grassroots Victory Fund — $750,000 (subsequently distributed to DNC and 47 state Democratic parties)
- 2011–2017: Multiple installments of $2,500 to former Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH)
Ohio State-Level Contributions (2016–2026)
The combined Wexner giving at the Ohio state and local level demonstrates systematic investment in political infrastructure across both parties. Recipients include:
- Andrew Ginther (Columbus Mayor) — $150,000+
- Jon Husted (U.S. Senator / former Lt. Gov.) — $100,000+ (since early 2000s)
- Shannon Hardin (Columbus City Council President) — $40,000+
- Robert Sprague (Ohio Treasurer) — $23,000
- Zach Klein (Columbus City Attorney) — $20,000
- Matt Huffman (Ohio House Speaker / Senate President) — $20,000 (2021–2022)
- Mike Carey (U.S. Representative) — $13,000+
- John O’Grady (Franklin County Commissioner) — $12,000
- Keith Faber (Ohio Auditor) — $15,000
- Michele Reynolds (Ohio State Senator) — $8,100
- Frank LaRose (Ohio SOS candidate) — $7,500
- Rob McColley (Ohio Senate President) — $5,000
- Brian Stewart (Ohio House Finance Committee Chair) — $5,000
- David Yost (Ohio Attorney General) — $5,000
The New Albany PAC and Limited Brands PAC served as additional conduits for Wexner political money to these officials.
The 2018 Republican “Break”: Theater Over Substance
In September 2018, Wexner publicly announced he was “no longer a Republican,” citing Trump’s response to Charlottesville. The announcement “sent a ripple through Ohio politics” given his dominant-donor status. However, the reality was more nuanced:
- He donated $10,000 to both the Ohio House Democratic Caucus and the Ohio House Republican Caucus in October 2018 — the same month he announced leaving the GOP
- He continued donating to PORT PAC (a Portman/GOP leadership PAC) through September 2019
- He gave $250,000 to the Republican Governors Association in June 2018 — just before his “break”
- He gave $250,000 to the NRSC in 2025, after years of renewed Epstein scrutiny
- He gave $100,000 to a post-Kasich PAC in 2013 for the failed 2016 presidential bid
The “break” functioned as reputation management and audience-segmentation — signaling to Democrats and progressive donors that he had abandoned the GOP, while the money kept flowing to Republicans at the PAC and party level.
PAC Activity
Wexner has contributed to and directed multiple PACs:
- New Albany PAC / Georgetown Co PAC — financed by the Wexners since 2011; helped finance the Columbus bond package; donated to Tim Ryan (D-OH)
- Limited Brands PAC / L Brands PAC — company PAC giving to corporate-friendly allies
- PORT PAC (Portman leadership PAC) — Wexner contributions through September 2019; this PAC donated strategically to national GOP figures including Ted Cruz ($10,000), Josh Hawley ($10,000), Rick Scott ($5,000), Lindsey Graham ($5,000), and Trump’s 2020 campaign ($10,000)
- With Honor PAC — bipartisan; funded Dan Crenshaw (R-TX) and Mikie Sherrill (D-NJ)
Politicians Returning Wexner Contributions (February–March 2026)
Following the February 2026 release of unredacted FBI documents naming Wexner as a co-conspirator in sex trafficking investigation, Ohio politicians announced they would donate Wexner contributions to charity:
Returned / pledged to donate:
- Jon Husted, Robert Sprague, Keith Faber, David Yost, Mike Carey, Joyce Beatty, Shannon Hardin, Beth Liston, Michele Reynolds, John O’Grady, Emmanuel Remy, Troy Balderson
Did not return / remained silent:
- Gov. Mike DeWine (defended Wexner publicly: “There is no evidence whatsoever that he has done anything wrong”)
- Sen. Bernie Moreno (said donation was unsolicited)
- Mayor Andrew Ginther (received $150,000+, noncommittal)
- City Attorney Zach Klein (no response)
- Matt Huffman (declined to comment)
- Rob McColley (said caucus members can make their own decision)
The Wexner Foundation
Structure and Programs: The Wexner Foundation was founded in 1983–1984 by Leslie Wexner to support Jewish leadership development in North America and Israel. It operates as a private foundation (501(c)(3)) alongside the Wexner Family Charitable Fund (founded 1991). Per ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer, the Charitable Fund’s 2020 tax return shows it granted $9 million to the Wexner Foundation and $3 million to Harvard University. The Foundation has offices in Ohio, New York, and Jerusalem.
Wexner Heritage Program: A two-year intensive Jewish leadership program running in 33+ North American cities, with 1,900+ alumni and counting. Total program cost: $700,000 per cohort, split between the Foundation and local community partners. Alumni have ascended to senior positions in Jewish communal organizations, philanthropy, and civic life across the U.S. and Canada.
Wexner Israel Fellowship: Since 1989, the Foundation has placed up to 10 outstanding Israeli public officials annually in the Harvard Kennedy School mid-career Master in Public Administration program. The alumni network has grown to 650+ members, including “Directors General of government ministries, senior officers in the IDF, judges, hospital directors, municipality and third sector NGO’s director generals.” This fellowship creates a permanent pipeline of influence: Israeli officials trained at an American elite institution using Wexner money represent the single largest concentrated influence operation over Israeli government decision-makers.
Wexner Senior Leaders: A newer Harvard Kennedy School-affiliated executive program for senior Israeli public servants, including defense and intelligence officials.
The Foundation cut ties with Harvard in 2024 over the university’s response to the October 7, 2023 Hamas attack.
The Luntz Political Messaging Document (2003)
In 2003, the Wexner Foundation commissioned Frank Luntz’s research firm to produce “Wexner Analysis: Israeli Communication Priorities 2003” — a strategic communications guide for pro-Israel advocates in the U.S. The document was leaked to The Electronic Intifada and subsequently became public. Per The Electronic Intifada, the document “spells out the tactics that Israel and its US advocates should use to maintain support for Israel and its hardline policies.”
The guide advised linking Israel’s interests to post-Iraq War messaging, framing Saddam Hussein as a common enemy, and coaching American Jewish leaders on how to sway public opinion toward Israeli government priorities. The Wexner Foundation subsequently distanced itself, claiming the document “was disseminated without the Foundations’ knowledge or authorization” — a claim that strains credibility given Luntz’s direct commission and the Foundation’s financing.
Frank Luntz, who produced the document, had previously helped craft Benjamin Netanyahu’s Israeli election campaign messaging.
The Ehud Barak Payment (2004–2006)
Between 2004 and 2006, the Wexner Foundation paid former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak $2.3 million for two research reports — one on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and one on leadership. Barak completed only the first. The Foundation acknowledged the payments only in 2020, stating the completed work was “sufficient to justify the paid sum.”
This payment became controversial in Israel’s 2019 election when Netanyahu’s campaign used it to attack Barak, who was challenging him. A Netanyahu attorney filed a complaint with Israel’s attorney general alleging the payments were “suspicious money transfers” and potentially illegal political contributions to an Israeli candidate.
Notably, Ehud Barak later partnered with Jeffrey Epstein in a technology venture — creating a connection between the Wexner Foundation’s Israeli soft-power investments and Epstein’s own Israeli connections.
Epstein’s Role as Foundation Trustee (1992–2007)
Jeffrey Epstein served as a trustee of the Wexner Foundation from 1992 to 2007, when he was removed after initial pedophilia allegations emerged. The Foundation commissioned an independent probe by the Kegler Brown Hill + Ritter law firm, which found his role was “limited to dealing with documents and reports related to transferring the Wexner family’s monetary support to the foundation.”
However, Epstein also “acquired a leadership role in two of Wexner’s foundations” and was “named as a trustee in entities with millions of dollars in shares.” Most significantly, during the 2026 congressional deposition, Wexner appeared shocked when informed that approximately $20 million in stock and cash from his charitable entities had been contributed to one of Epstein’s charities. Wexner stated: “Effing shocked, I just — I’m appalled. I never heard that.”
What They’ve Gotten
Voinovich Relationship: State Power as Personal Infrastructure (1990–1994)
In 1990, Wexner invested $100,000 in Republican George Voinovich’s successful gubernatorial campaign — his largest single political investment at that time. The NBC News investigation documents what followed as a clear exchange of political donations for state resources:
What Wexner gave: $55,000 to Voinovich between 1990–1994
What Voinovich delivered:
- Connected Wexner to the “Cleveland Tomorrow” group, which became the template for the Columbus Partnership (the private governance structure for 11 counties)
- $235 million state-funded highway interchange for Easton Town Center, Wexner’s retail development. A 1994 article in The Other Paper reported that Wexner’s excessive donations to Voinovich “helped the project in jumping the queue” over two higher-ranked projects at the Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission
- State-funded infrastructure for New Albany’s development
- Voinovich’s top aide drafted legislation for a liquor license for Wexner’s New Albany Country Club and housing development. When media exposed that the bill would benefit Wexner, Voinovich vetoed it — though Wexner subsequently obtained the right to sell alcohol through a microbrewery at the club
Money
$100,000 donation (1990) → $235 million state highway interchange + New Albany infrastructure. ROI: 2,350:1. This exchange established the template for all subsequent Wexner political spending in Ohio: direct donations to politicians in exchange for state-funded infrastructure serving his private real estate empire.
The Water/Sewer Deal (1987 donations → 1989 approval)
Wexner’s early cross-party giving demonstrates the logic: he supported both Democratic Gov. Dick Celeste and Republican Sen. John Glenn in the 1980s. In 1987, he donated thousands to Columbus City Council President Jerry Hammond (D) and other Democratic councilmembers. The same year, Hammond’s jazz club — in which Wexner had invested — received favorable financing.
In 1989, the Columbus City Council approved a critical water and sewage infrastructure deal for New Albany. A Columbus City School Board member challenged the deal as being tainted by Wexner’s investment in Hammond’s jazz club. The opposition failed; the deal proceeded. This arrangement allowed New Albany to develop without annexation into Columbus, preserving its ability to establish its own school district and property tax structure.
Policy return: Access to city water/sewer without annexation liability = the foundation for New Albany’s later growth as an exclusive enclave.
New Albany: Private Government Model (1986–2026)
Origins (1986): Wexner and developer Jack Kessler formed the New Albany Company, initially dubbed “Wexley” (combination of “Wexner” and “Bexley”). They purchased 300+ lots and divided them into 1,800 smaller parcels, creating a self-contained municipality designed on English Cotswolds / Williamsburg / Virginia plantation estate aesthetics.
Epstein’s role (1988 onward): Jeffrey Epstein served as an early board member and became co-president by 1988. He funneled property acquisitions through Wexner-controlled trusts, acquired homes in New Albany in 1990 and 1992, maintained a branch of his financial advisory firm in New Albany into the 2000s, and rotated staff between Manhattan, New Albany, and his private islands. Ghislaine Maxwell stated Epstein “ran New Albany” for much of their relationship.
The school funding fight: When New Albany sought access to Columbus city water and sewer lines without being annexed into Columbus, it sparked confrontation:
- Opposition: Columbus City School Board, Columbus Education Association, NAACP, and the Apple Alliance threatened a citywide referendum on annexation
- Stakes: Annexation would have meant New Albany residents’ children attended Columbus public schools — depriving the suburb of its ability to create its own exclusive school district
- Outcome: The city council voted to allow the water/sewer access; the NAACP lawsuit was defeated
Growth trajectory: New Albany grew from fewer than 500 residents in 1980 to 4,000 by 2000 to 11,000 by 2020 — entirely as a result of Wexner’s private planning apparatus being executed through compliant local and state government.
Tech feudalism (2010s–2026): New Albany now hosts Amazon, Meta, Google, Microsoft, and Intel hyperscale data center operations. Roughly half of Ohio’s approximately 200 data centers are in New Albany. Human costs: rising electric bills across central Ohio, drained aquifers, minimal permanent employment relative to subsidies received. Wexner’s 1983 vision of “tax abatements, tax incentives, strong zoning, strong leadership in the private sector” has been scaled statewide.
The Highway Interchange: MORPC Override (1990s)
The Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission (MORPC) ranked highway projects by regional impact. Two projects ranked higher in priority than the Easton Town Center interchange. Despite this, the Ohio Department of Transportation fast-tracked a $235 million state-funded highway interchange with blue “Easton” signage serving Wexner’s retail mall. Wexner’s company contributed approximately $18 million in cash; the state contributed $235 million — a 13:1 public-to-private investment ratio.
Money
Public infrastructure subsidies: $235 million highway + subsequent water/sewer + tax incentives = the structural foundation for Wexner’s real estate empire to become profitable. Without state funding, these projects would not have been economically viable.
JobsOhio: Scaling the Model Statewide (2011 onward)
The governance model pioneered at New Albany — private entities directing public resources with minimal accountability — was codified statewide through JobsOhio, created by legislation signed by Gov. John Kasich in 2011. Wexner contributed to Kasich’s gubernatorial campaign and benefited immediately:
- State leased its liquor tax revenue for $1.4 billion to JobsOhio (lease extended to 2053)
- JobsOhio has funneled over $1.4 billion in taxpayer-backed incentives to corporations
- The entity is “chaired by lobbyists tied directly to Gov. Mike DeWine” and “partners hand-in-glove with the Wexner-dominated Columbus Partnership and One Columbus”
- Data centers in New Albany received sales-tax exemptions and property-tax abatements estimated at $1.6 billion in lost Ohio tax revenue
- Intel alone: $2 billion package including a 30-year tax break worth $650 million — with the New Albany plant opening delayed to at least 2030
- Independent research shows that in 75% of cases, these incentives don’t influence location decisions
The Columbus Partnership (founded 2002), Columbus 2020 / One Columbus economic development authority (privately funded by L Brands and others), and JobsOhio form an interlocking system functioning as parallel government — directing tens of billions in public resources without elected accountability.
Ohio State University: Institutional Capture (1961–2026)
Funding history:
- $200+ million total to Ohio State over 30+ years — largest individual donor in university history
- 1961 onward: Wexner (1959 graduate) began modest donations ($5 initially)
- February 2011: Historic $100 million gift ($65M personal, $35M Limited Brands Foundation) — “one of the largest philanthropic gifts ever made to a public university”
Institutional control:
- Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center: Medical center renamed after the 2011 gift
- Wexner Center for the Arts: Limited Brands Foundation raised nearly $50 million
- Board of Trustees: Wexner served as chairman (multiple terms), including during the period when Dr. Richard Strauss sexually abused hundreds of male athletes. OSU’s commissioned investigation detailed “breakdowns in leadership, oversight, and response” under Wexner’s chairmanship
- OSU Foundation: Wexner was founding member and first chairman
Naming controversy (February 2026 onward):
Following the February 2026 release of unredacted FBI co-conspirator documents, the Ohio Nurses Association (ONA) led a campaign to remove Wexner’s name from all OSU buildings. Over 100 nurses, union members, students, and community members protested outside the Wexner Medical Center in February 2026.
ONA President Rick Lucas stated: “This is not a criminal trial. This is about proximity, trust and accountability. Wexner’s money funded a network that exploited women and children.”
The ONA letter also called out the naming of a labor and delivery waiting area for Dr. Mark Landon — who, it was revealed, received several payments from Epstein in the early 2000s. OSU said it was investigating Landon.
A Change.org petition titled “Ohioans Demand OSU Remove Les Wexner’s Name From All Buildings” was filed in February 2026.
OSU’s response: The university said there is “an established process for considering renaming requests.” A committee had previously rejected a petition to rename the Les Wexner Football Complex. OSU President Ted Carter said OSU would be “paying close attention” to the federal investigation. No name changes had been announced as of March 2026.
Gov. Mike DeWine defended the naming, stating: “There is no evidence whatsoever that he has done anything wrong. He has been a prominent figure of the community and done many, many things.”
Note: There is no contract tying the naming to Wexner’s donations; the naming is governed by an honorific resolution from the OSU Board of Trustees — meaning OSU could remove it unilaterally but has chosen not to.
The Epstein Connection
How the Relationship Began (Mid-1980s)
Wexner met Jeffrey Epstein in the “mid-to-late 1980s” through a mutual business associate. Epstein had recently left Bear Stearns and positioned himself as a financial bounty hunter and private wealth manager for ultra-wealthy clients. Epstein’s pitch relied on convincing wealthy clients “that their finances were a mess, that their advisers and even family members were inept or exploiting them and that only one man had the wherewithal to save them.”
Wexner was at the peak of his retail success with an estimated fortune of $4.6 billion. Epstein thus gained access to one of the largest private fortunes in America.
The Power of Attorney (July 1991)
In July 1991, Wexner signed a three-page legal document granting Epstein sweeping power of attorney over his entire financial operation. The document allowed Epstein to:
- Hire and fire employees
- Sign checks and tax documents
- Buy and sell real estate
- Borrow money on Wexner’s behalf
- Make investment decisions
Legal experts described the scope as “remarkable” and “unprecedented” in its breadth — effectively making Epstein Wexner’s “financial alter ego.” Friends and colleagues were “mystified” by the arrangement. At the time of the power of attorney, Forbes estimated Wexner’s fortune at approximately $4.6 billion. Epstein thus had access to one of the largest private fortunes in America.
ROI for Epstein: Institutional legitimacy. By managing Wexner’s $4.6 billion fortune, Epstein presented himself to other ultra-wealthy clients as “an exclusive money manager for billionaires,” opening doors to additional clients including Leon Black (Apollo Global Management), who paid Epstein $158 million between 2012–2017.
The Manhattan Townhouse Transfer (1989–2011)
1989: Wexner purchased 9 East 71st Street on Manhattan’s Upper East Side for $13.2 million — then a record for Manhattan townhouse sales. Wexner renovated the seven-story, 21,000-square-foot neoclassical mansion extensively, filling it with art including Picasso works. The mansion appeared on the December 1995 cover of Architectural Digest. Epstein lived there beginning in 1996.
Property transfer (disputed):
- Wexner’s 2026 congressional statement: “Contrary to rumors, I did not gift Epstein the New York townhouse; he acquired it from me for what I was informed was its appraised value.”
- NBC4 documents: Wexner sold the property to Epstein on November 11, 1998, for $20 million — Epstein paid $1,012,028.24 upfront, with remaining balance in installments through 2000
- 2011 transfer: Public records show the property was transferred from Nine East 71st Street Corporation (controlled by Wexner and Epstein) to Maple Inc. (a Virgin Islands entity controlled solely by Epstein) for $0
- By 2019: NYC Department of Finance valued it at $56 million; Bloomberg’s court estimate put it at $77 million
Wexner told Congress he “never returned to that house” after vacating it. The FBI raided the mansion in July 2019 and found nude photos, at least one of which reportedly depicted an underaged girl.
Asset Accumulation Through Power of Attorney
Through the power of attorney, Epstein controlled:
- The Manhattan townhouse (9 East 71st Street)
- A luxury Ohio property in New Albany
- A private jet previously owned by Wexner
- Wexner’s personal yacht Limitless, which Epstein was “given control over designing”
- Millions in stocks: Epstein was “named as a trustee in entities with millions of dollars in shares, including one for Wexner’s children”
- The New Albany Company: Epstein served as co-president alongside Wexner from approximately 1988
Wexner’s patronage “made Epstein rich” — by touting Wexner as his client, Epstein presented himself as managing the largest fortunes in America, facilitating his rise as a quasi-official financial authority in elite networks.
Financial Misappropriation: The Disputed Amounts
August 2019 letter: Wexner wrote to Foundation members that Epstein “misappropriated vast sums of money” from him, calling himself “embarrassed” and stating that his “trust in him was grossly misplaced.” He did not specify the amount.
2008 repayment: Wexner’s lawyers told investigators in 2008 that Epstein repaid Wexner $100 million — described as “believed to be just a fraction of the total amount he misappropriated.”
Congressional estimate: Rep. Robert Garcia (D-CA) stated that his committee found “approximately over a billion dollars” in value moved from Wexner to Epstein via transfers, stock, and direct payments.
Contradiction
Wexner’s claim of victimhood conflicts with the evidence of his active participation in the arrangement. He granted Epstein sweeping power of attorney, allowed him to live in his $13 million Manhattan townhouse, named him co-president of New Albany Company, appointed him as a trustee of his foundation, and benefited from Epstein’s access-creation in elite networks for decades. The framing of himself as a victim of misappropriation, while possibly true on some transactions, obscures his role in institutionalizing Epstein’s authority and profiting from his elevation within elite circles.
The Victoria’s Secret Connection
Multiple Victoria’s Secret executives alerted Wexner in the 1990s that Epstein was posing as a talent scout to lure women into modeling opportunities, then assaulting them. Wexner said he confronted Epstein and forbade him from claiming any association with Victoria’s Secret. Epstein denied having done so. No further internal action was taken.
California model Alicia Arden told the New York Times that in 1997, Epstein posed as a Victoria’s Secret scout and assaulted her in a Santa Monica hotel room.
The New Albany Compound (1996)
In summer 1996, artist Maria Farmer alleged that Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell sexually assaulted her at Epstein’s residence in New Albany, Ohio — located approximately half a mile from the Wexners’ home. Farmer filed one of the earliest complaints against Epstein; the FBI confirmed receiving it, and the complaint reportedly detailed Epstein’s possession of nude images of underaged girls.
No law enforcement action was taken at the time.
A Wexner spokesperson told OpenSecrets that “Epstein’s house was not on land owned by the Wexners but in a community developed by Wexner.”
When the Relationship Ended: Disputed Timeline
Wexner’s public statements about when he severed ties with Epstein shifted repeatedly over time:
- In the 2019 letter to his Foundation, he stated he “severed ties” after learning of Epstein’s criminal conduct
- In various statements he cited “a decade ago” (from 2019) as the end of the relationship — suggesting approximately 2007–2009
- His 2026 congressional statement said the split occurred “in 2007 when the Wexners learned he had been embezzling funds from them,” and that Wexner “severed all connections”
- However, documents show Wexner emailed Epstein in 2008, after Epstein’s 2007 initial criminal investigation had begun
Legal Proceedings and the Co-Conspirator Designation
Virginia Giuffre allegations: In a 2016 deposition unsealed in January 2024 in the Giuffre v. Maxwell civil lawsuit, Giuffre alleged that Wexner was among the men to whom Epstein trafficked her, stating she had sex with Wexner “multiple times” — “more than three and possibly more than five times.” Giuffre said she was “directed to wear lingerie for Wexner by Ghislaine Maxwell.” Wexner has denied ever meeting Giuffre. No criminal charges have been filed.
FBI co-conspirator document: An internal FBI document dated August 15, 2019 — compiled days after Epstein’s death — identified Wexner as one of eight co-conspirators in the sex trafficking investigation. This document was redacted in the DOJ’s initial 2025 Epstein file release but was unredacted in February 2026 following pressure from Reps. Ro Khanna (D-CA) and Thomas Massie (R-KY). A second FBI email from August 2019 noted “limited evidence regarding his involvement.”
Attorney General Pam Bondi stated that Wexner’s name appears more than 4,000 times in the Epstein files.
DOJ’s position: Wexner’s spokesperson stated that in 2019, an Assistant U.S. Attorney told Wexner’s counsel he was “neither a co-conspirator nor target in any respect” and was “never contacted again” after providing background on Epstein. The DOJ has made no public statement explaining why Wexner was not charged despite the co-conspirator designation.
Wexner was also subpoenaed to testify in a separate civil lawsuit against Ohio State University regarding sexual abuse by Dr. Richard Strauss, overlapping with Wexner’s tenure as OSU Board Chairman. U.S. District Judge Michael Watson rejected a motion to dismiss the subpoena, ruling Wexner “may possess information not readily available elsewhere.”
House Oversight Committee deposition: On February 18, 2026, five Democratic members of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee traveled to Wexner’s New Albany estate and deposed him for nearly six hours. House Republicans boycotted. Wexner said he “cannot remember” answers to many questions, including how Epstein obtained hundreds of millions of his money. Democrats said his answers were “not credible.” The full video and transcript were subsequently released publicly.
Donation-to-Policy Timeline
| Date | Recipient/Target | Amount | Policy Return | Time Gap |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1987 | Columbus City Council Pres. Jerry Hammond (D) + Democratic councilmembers | $5,000+ | Water/sewer deal approved for New Albany without annexation (1989); avoided Columbus school district consolidation | 2 years |
| 1990 | Gov. George Voinovich (R) gubernatorial campaign | $100,000 | $235 million state highway interchange for Easton Town Center; New Albany infrastructure; template for Ohio political machine | Immediate |
| 1990-1994 | Gov. George Voinovich (R) | $55,000 | MORPC override; highway projects fast-tracked; liquor license lobbying for New Albany Country Club | 0-4 years |
| 1998-2000 | Transfer of Manhattan townhouse to Epstein via power of attorney | ~$20 million | Epstein gains $77 million asset (by 2019 valuation); credibility as manager of ultra-wealthy fortunes; enables his rise to billionaire status | N/A |
| 2002 | Kasich / Columbus Partnership formation | variable | Creation of Columbus Partnership as parallel governance structure; JobsOhio legislation path opens | 9 years |
| 2011 | Gov. John Kasich campaign support | variable | JobsOhio created; $1.4 billion in incentives; $1.6 billion in foregone data center taxes; New Albany becomes Silicon Heartland | Immediate |
| 2011 | Ohio State University (Wexner + Limited Brands Foundation) | $100 million | OSU medical center named “Wexner Medical Center”; board control; naming rights permanent; institutional legitimacy | Permanent |
| 2018 | National Republican Congressional Committee | $236,300+ | Congressional allies protecting tax incentive regimes; JobsOhio funding continued; Intel/Amazon/Meta subsidies maintained | Ongoing |
| 2025 | National Republican Senatorial Committee | $250,000 | Post-Epstein scandal re-entry attempt; $3,500 each to Jon Husted and Bernie Moreno (both receive maximum contributions); policy continuity maintained despite February 2026 co-conspirator designation | N/A |
Money
Wexner’s political spending totals $5.3 million in direct contributions over 40+ years but has purchased an estimated $2+ billion in direct state infrastructure subsidies (highway interchange, JobsOhio, data center tax breaks), plus permanent institutional control (OSU naming rights), plus the private creation of a municipality of 11,000 residents (New Albany). ROI: 400:1 on measurable subsidies alone. The investments in Israeli soft power (Wexner Foundation) have created a permanent influence pipeline of 650+ trained government officials — measuring this ROI is harder but the strategic value is immense.
Class Analysis: The Donor-to-Policy Pipeline
The Business Interest Behind the Donations
Wexner’s political spending maps cleanly onto his business and real estate interests:
| Political Investment | Business Return |
|---|---|
| $100,000 to Voinovich (1990) | $235 million state highway interchange for Easton mall; New Albany infrastructure; liquor license lobbying |
| $55,000 to Voinovich (1990–1994) | MORPC override to prioritize Wexner’s highway projects |
| Donations to Jerry Hammond + City Council Democrats (1987) | Columbus water/sewer deal for New Albany without annexation; avoided Columbus school district consolidation |
| Consistent support for Ohio House/Senate Republicans (1990s–2020s) | Ohio regulatory environment favorable to L Brands expansion; zoning and tax abatement policies codified into state law |
| Kasich campaign support + JobsOhio creation (2011) | New Albany transformed into data center subsidy zone; $1.6 billion in lost Ohio tax revenue now flowing to tech corporations in Wexner’s backyard |
| $200 million to OSU | OSU Board chairmanship; institutional legitimacy; research and medical infrastructure serving Wexner’s community; naming rights across campus; protection from institutional scrutiny |
| Wexner Foundation Israeli programs | Access to Israeli government officials at highest levels; soft power for a donor deeply interested in U.S.-Israel policy and Middle East geopolitics |
The New Albany Tax Structure as Wealth Defense
New Albany’s political significance is not primarily about civic improvement — it is about wealth preservation and the creation of a private municipality. By obtaining city water/sewer access without annexation in 1989, Wexner and Kessler:
- Created a separate municipality with its own, well-funded school district (not Columbus’s)
- Established a property tax base benefiting from commercial development in the Business Park while keeping residential taxes under the control of wealthy homeowners
- Developed a Business Park that grew to 3+ million square feet by 2015, generating commercial tax revenue flowing into the wealthy suburb rather than Columbus proper
As Kevin Cox’s 2021 book Boomtown Columbus documents, the explicit goal was to avoid Columbus schools — preserving a segregated educational infrastructure where children of the wealthy attend well-funded suburban schools while Columbus City Schools serve a majority-Black, working-class population on a constrained tax base.
The Infrastructure of Influence: From Retail to State Policy
Wexner articulated his philosophy in a 1983 Columbus Dispatch interview: cities should grow on a “collective wisdom” of “tax abatements, tax incentives, strong zoning, strong leadership in the private sector.” He observed that “his suggestions today have been codified into law.”
This is the class analysis in miniature: a billionaire’s preferred economic theory (private governance, tax incentives for the wealthy, zoning that excludes the non-wealthy) first practiced on farmland (New Albany), then executed through captured politicians (Voinovich, Kasich, DeWine), then codified as state policy through JobsOhio and the Columbus Partnership, and now scaled nationally through political allies.
The Ohio Register analysis frames this as “elite capture dressed up as innovation” — a “techno-feudal state” in which public resources are directed by private interests with zero public accountability, and in which the human costs (rising utility bills, strained schools, environmental degradation, gutted public services) are borne by the non-wealthy while the gains flow upward.
The Epstein Dimension of Class Power
Epstein’s role in this ecosystem went beyond financial management. His function was to provide credibility, access, and leverage within elite networks — the same networks from which political donations flow, appointments are made, and policies are determined. By making Wexner’s money work in elite social and financial circles, Epstein became the instrument through which Wexner’s retail wealth was converted into durable social capital.
The “approximately a billion dollars” that Rep. Garcia estimates flowed to Epstein from Wexner — through properties, stocks, direct transfers, and charitable entities — represents the cost of purchasing that access and credibility, whether or not Wexner intended it as such.
Whether Wexner was a victim, an enabler, or something more complicit remains a matter of ongoing legal and investigative proceedings. As Wexner himself told the House Oversight Committee: “Bank robbers don’t rob one bank… there’s more there. I can understand why people like myself, who were robbed, don’t want to be mentioned.”
Timeline of Key Events
| Date | Event | Key Players | Amount | Significance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1963 | Wexner founds The Limited with $5,000 loan from aunt | Wexner, aunt | $5,000 | Founding of retail empire |
| 1980 | Earliest recorded federal political contributions | Wexner; John Glenn, George H.W. Bush campaigns | variable | Wexner enters political donor network |
| 1983 | Wexner articulates “tax abatement, tax incentive, strong zoning” development philosophy in Columbus Dispatch | Wexner | N/A | Philosophy later codified into state law via JobsOhio |
| 1983–1984 | Wexner Foundation established | Wexner | N/A | Creation of soft-power infrastructure for Israeli influence |
| 1986 | Wexner and Jack Kessler form New Albany Company | Wexner, Kessler | variable | Creation of private municipality model |
| Mid-1980s | Wexner meets Epstein through mutual business associate | Wexner, Epstein | N/A | Beginning of financial relationship; Epstein positioned as wealth manager |
| 1987 | Wexner donates to Columbus City Council Pres. Hammond (D) + Democratic councilmembers | Wexner, Hammond | $5,000+ | Cross-party giving to secure New Albany water/sewer deal |
| 1988 | Epstein becomes co-president of New Albany Company | Wexner, Epstein | N/A | Epstein gains control over 1,800-lot development; creates parallel financial structures |
| 1989 | Columbus City Council approves New Albany water/sewer deal despite school board, NAACP, Apple Alliance opposition | Columbus City Council | N/A | New Albany gains independence from Columbus schools; segregated educational structure cemented |
| 1989 | Wexner purchases 9 East 71st Street Manhattan townhouse | Wexner | $13.2 million | Acquisition of elite asset; serves as Epstein’s residence beginning 1996 |
| 1990 | Wexner donates $100,000 to Voinovich gubernatorial campaign | Wexner, Voinovich | $100,000 | Voinovich wins; delivers highway interchange and state infrastructure |
| July 1991 | Wexner signs power of attorney granting Epstein sweeping financial control | Wexner, Epstein | N/A | Epstein gains authority over $4.6 billion fortune; enables his rise to ultra-wealthy status |
| 1992 | Epstein named trustee of Wexner Foundation | Epstein | N/A | Epstein gains control over charitable entity with millions in assets |
| 1995 | Wexner’s Manhattan mansion appears on Architectural Digest cover | Wexner, Architectural Digest | N/A | Property legitimacy; Epstein living there by this point |
| 1996 | Epstein moves operations to U.S. Virgin Islands; Maria Farmer alleges assault at Epstein’s New Albany compound | Epstein, Maria Farmer | N/A | Epstein’s island infrastructure begins; early trafficking allegations surface |
| 1997 | Alicia Arden alleges Epstein posed as Victoria’s Secret scout and assaulted her | Epstein, Arden | N/A | Evidence of Epstein using Victoria’s Secret brand for trafficking; Wexner’s company reputation tainted |
| 1998 | Wexner sells 9 East 71st Street to Epstein entity for $20 million (disputed transaction) | Wexner, Epstein | $20 million | Property later valued at $56–77 million; Epstein gains $77 million asset |
| 1999 | Easton Town Center highway interchange opens | Voinovich, Wexner, ODOT | $235 million | State infrastructure serving Wexner retail development; validates political donation ROI |
| 2002 | Columbus Partnership founded | Wexner, Voinovich, civic leaders | N/A | Creation of private governance structure for 11-county region; parallel government established |
| 2003 | Wexner Foundation commissions Frank Luntz Israel messaging document | Luntz, Wexner Foundation | N/A | Strategic communications plan for pro-Israel advocacy in U.S.; leaked |
| 2004–2006 | Wexner Foundation pays Ehud Barak $2.3 million for research reports | Barak, Wexner Foundation | $2.3 million | Later becomes controversial in Israel’s 2019 election; Barak also partners with Epstein |
| 2007 | Wexner severs ties with Epstein (per Wexner’s account); Epstein investigated in Florida | Wexner, Epstein, Florida law enforcement | N/A | Wexner’s claimed cutoff date; contradicted by 2008 email evidence |
| 2008 | Wexner emails Epstein (contradicting “severed ties” 2007 claim); Epstein’s lawyers tell investigators Epstein repaid Wexner $100 million | Wexner, Epstein | $100 million (repayment claim) | Evidence of continued relationship; “repayment” described as “just a fraction” of misappropriation |
| 2008–2009 | Epstein pleads guilty to Florida prostitution charges; serves 13 months in Palm Beach County Jail | Epstein, Florida DOJ | N/A | Minimal consequences; Wexner relationship enables Epstein’s low sentence |
| 2011 | Wexner and Limited Brands Foundation commit $100 million to OSU; medical center renamed | Wexner, OSU Board | $100 million | Largest individual gift in OSU history; permanent naming rights; institutional control |
| 2011 | JobsOhio created by Kasick legislation; statewide version of New Albany model | Kasick, JobsOhio board | $1.4 billion (initial lease) | State liquor tax revenue privatized; $1.4 billion in incentives; $1.6 billion in foregone taxes |
| 2011 | 9 East 71st Street transferred from NES Corporation to Epstein’s Maple Inc. for $0 | Wexner, Epstein | $0 | Property transferred free; valued at $56–77 million by 2019 |
| June 2018 | Wexner gives $250,000 to Republican Governors Association | Wexner, RGA | $250,000 | Peak of GOP support just before announced “break” |
| September 2018 | Wexner publicly declares he is “no longer a Republican” citing Charlottesville | Wexner, media | N/A | Public reputation management; money continues flowing to Republican PACs |
| 2018 | Wexner ranked #350 among all individual federal donors; $314,900 total (297,200 R / 2,700 D) | Wexner, FEC | $314,900 | Peak federal donor cycle; begins decline after Epstein scandal |
| November 2018 | Miami Herald publishes Epstein exposé reigniting scrutiny of 2008 plea deal | Miami Herald, Epstein files | N/A | Public awareness of Epstein relationship increases dramatically |
| July 2019 | Epstein arrested on federal sex trafficking charges; FBI raids 9 East 71st Street | Federal agents, Epstein | N/A | Nude photos allegedly found in mansion; Wexner relationship becomes public liability |
| August 2019 | Wexner’s letter to Foundation: Epstein “misappropriated vast sums”; FBI compiles internal document listing Wexner as co-conspirator | Wexner, FBI | N/A | Wexner claims victimhood; FBI identifies him as potential co-conspirator |
| August 10, 2019 | Epstein dies in federal custody (apparent suicide) | Epstein | N/A | End of criminal investigation; questions remain unanswered |
| February 2020 | Wexner steps down as L Brands CEO | Wexner, L Brands Board | N/A | Epstein scandal pressures departure; retains significant ownership |
| 2021 | Wexner resigns as chair of Columbus Partnership | Wexner, Columbus Partnership | N/A | Reputation damage forces exit from civic leadership role |
| January 2024 | Giuffre deposition unsealed: Wexner named in sex trafficking allegations | Virginia Giuffre, Wexner | N/A | Alleged victim claims sexual contact with Wexner multiple times |
| 2024 | Wexner Foundation cuts ties with Harvard Kennedy School | Wexner Foundation, Harvard | N/A | Response to university’s stance on October 7, 2023 Hamas attack; interrupts Israeli official training pipeline |
| 2025 | Wexner donates $250,000 to NRSC; $3,500 each to Moreno, Husted; $3,300 to Carey | Wexner, Republican committees | $260,300+ | Post-scandal re-entry attempt; maximum contributions to Ohio senators |
| February 9–10, 2026 | DOJ unredacts Wexner’s name from 2019 FBI co-conspirator document after congressional pressure | DOJ, Rep. Khanna, Rep. Massie | N/A | Public naming as potential co-conspirator; 4,000+ mentions in Epstein files |
| February 16–18, 2026 | Ohio politicians begin returning Wexner donations; Ohio Nurses Association protests OSU naming | Multiple Ohio politicians, ONA | N/A | Mass repudiation of donations; pressure campaign to remove Wexner’s name from OSU buildings |
| February 18, 2026 | Wexner deposed by House Oversight Committee Democrats at his New Albany home for nearly six hours | Wexner, House Democrats | N/A | Wexner claims memory loss on key questions; Democrats question credibility; $1 billion wealth transfer documented |
Sources
Tier 1 (Government/Primary Documents)
- FEC Individual Contributions Database: Leslie Wexner (Tier 1)
- FEC Donor Lookup: Wexner to Mike DeWine (Tier 1)
- House Oversight Committee: Wexner Deposition Video (February 18, 2026) (Tier 1)
- ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer: Wexner Foundation Form 990-PF Filings (Tier 1)
Tier 2 (Major Investigative Journalism)
- OpenSecrets: “Victoria’s Secret Founder Donates Big to GOP” (August 2022) (Tier 2)
- NBC News: “Epstein Saga Engulfs Les Wexner, Ohio” (February 2026) (Tier 2)
- Business Insider: “Victoria’s Secret Founder Gave Epstein Power of Attorney” (July 2019) (Tier 2)
- Business Insider: “How Epstein Bought the NYC Townhouse” (July 2019) (Tier 2)
- Politico: “Former Victoria’s Secret CEO Testifies on Epstein Relationship” (February 19, 2026) (Tier 2)
- New York Times: “Wexner Deposed by House Democrats on Epstein Files” (February 18, 2026) (Tier 2)
- PBS NewsHour: “House Democrats Speak After Wexner Deposition” (February 2026) (Tier 2)
- WOSU: “Several Ohio Politicians Donate Money Given to Their Campaigns by Les and Abigail Wexner” (February 16, 2026) (Tier 2)
- WOSU: “Ohio Nurses Association Calls on Ohio State to Remove Les Wexner’s Name From Campus Buildings” (February 22, 2026) (Tier 2)
- Matter News: “How Wexner’s Desire for a City Center Led to a More Fragmented Columbus” (Tier 2)
- Ohio Register: “One State Under Wexner” (Analysis of JobsOhio and data center subsidies) (Tier 2)
- TIME: “Epstein Files Redactions Unredacted: How Massie and Khanna Forced DOJ to Release Names” (February 10, 2026) (Tier 2)
- The Lantern: “Epstein Trafficking Victim Claimed Sex with Wexner Multiple Times” (January 2024) (Tier 2)
- NBC News: “DOJ Names 3 People FBI Once Called Jeffrey Epstein Co-Conspirators” (Tier 2)
- NOTUS: “Ohio Lawmakers Donations: Jeffrey Epstein Associate Les Wexner” (FEC Records, 2025) (Tier 2)
Tier 3 (Secondary Reporting)
- Times of Israel: “Wexner Foundation Paid Ehud Barak $2.3 Million for Two Reports, Only One Completed” (February 2020) (Tier 3)
- Electronic Intifada: “Leaked Document Exposes Pro-Israel Lobby’s Manipulation of U.S. Public” (Luntz document analysis) (Tier 3)
- Al Jazeera: “Les Wexner: How the Billionaire Enabled Jeffrey Epstein’s Rise” (February 2026) (Tier 3)
- Axios Columbus: “Les Wexner Jeffrey Epstein Ties Testimony” (February 2026) (Tier 3)
- Signal Ohio: “Les Wexner Deposed by House Oversight Committee Over Epstein Ties” (Tier 3)
- ABC6 / WSYX: “Ohio Politicians Distance Themselves From Wexner Donations” (February 2026) (Tier 3)
- ABC6 / WSYX: “House Oversight Committee Panel on Les Wexner and Epstein” (February 2026) (Tier 3)
- Forbes: “Everything We Know About Les Wexner in the Epstein Files” (February 16, 2026) (Tier 3)
- Yahoo News / NBC4: “Lawmakers Return Campaign Contributions from Les Wexner” (February 2026) (Tier 3)
- InfluenceWatch: “Wexner Foundation” (Foundation advocacy mapping) (Tier 3)
- Town & Country: “Jeffrey Epstein Townhouse Upper East Side” (Real estate history) (Tier 3)
- OpenSecrets: “Biggest Donors 2018” (Ranking data) (Tier 3)
- Brendon Beebe Substack: “How Epstein Created His Wealth by Serving Wexner” (Tier 3)
- OSU Wexner Medical Center: “Wexner and Limited Brands Foundation Historic Commitment” (Official press release) (Tier 2)
- Wexner Foundation: “Wexner Israel Fellowship Program” (Official program description) (Tier 3)
- Wexner Foundation: “Wexner Heritage Program” (Official program description) (Tier 3)
Tier 4 (Specialized/Partisan Sources)
content-readiness:: developed