Leslie Wexner to Give Sworn Testimony in Epstein Accuser’s Suit

(Bloomberg) -- Leslie Wexner, the billionaire founder of L Brands Inc., will be questioned under oath next month as part of a lawsuit filed by a woman who claims Jeffrey Epstein trafficked her for sex.

Wexner will sit for depositions in a legal dispute between Virginia Giuffre and Harvard Law School Professor Alan Dershowitz, whom Giuffre claims was part of a group of powerful men to whom Epstein offered her for sex. She sued Dershowitz for defamation after he called her a liar, and he counter-sued, claiming Giuffre was making false claims about him as part of a plan to extort money from a far wealthier member of Epstein’s circle -- Wexner.

U.S. District Judge Loretta Preska on Tuesday gave each side an hour to question Wexner on Dec. 17, saying they can ask him if he ever had sex with Giuffre. The judge said Wexner’s answer will be sealed, warning that the lawyers would “be taken out in front of a firing squad” if any information leaks. 

But Wexner’s lawyer said the deposition will be short because the billionaire will deny knowing Giuffre. The lawyer complained that his client was being used “as a prop” by Dershowitz’s defense team.

Wexner had a long-standing relationship with Epstein, who managed his fortune for years. Wexner said in 2019 that Epstein had deceived him and “misappropriated vast sums of money.”

The case is Giuffre v. Dershowitz, 19-cv-03377, U.S. District Court, Southern District of New York (Manhattan).

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