Maria Farmer Condemns Les Wexner for Downplaying Epstein Abuse and Intimidation

Maria Farmer, one of the earliest known accusers of Jeffrey Epstein, issued a pointed statement Saturday criticizing recent congressional testimony by billionaire retail magnate Les Wexner. Wexner, the 88-year-old founder of L Brands, told lawmakers this week that he was “duped by a world-class con man” and claimed he severed ties with Epstein in 2007 without witnessing any abuse or criminal conduct during their association.

Farmer, who has long alleged that Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell sexually assaulted her in the 1990s, directly challenged Wexner’s characterization of his relationship with Epstein. In her statement, Farmer wrote: “I am glad Wexner’s deposition, this lever of power, is being used to try to achieve some accountability and justice for the many survivors whose trauma has for so long been ignored, dismissed, or discounted.”

She further stated that “Wexner’s reported downplaying of his relationship with Epstein is abhorrent, particularly given Maxwell’s own description of him as Epstein’s closest friend.” Farmer also expressed concern over Wexner’s alleged lack of knowledge about her abuse and suffering on his property.

In her statement, Farmer described alleged intimidation at Wexner’s Ohio estate. She wrote that when she attempted to escape, she was threatened by employees and associates, including sharpshooters, guns, and guard dogs, and held against her will.

Farmer further alleged that documents containing “anatomically revealing” images of girls stored for “artistic reference” were stolen from her. In a complaint cited in her statement, she claimed that Epstein at one time requested [redacted] to take pictures of young girls at swimming pools and later threatened to “burn her house down” if she disclosed the existence of the photographs.

Wexner has maintained that he cut off contact with Epstein more than a decade before Epstein’s 2019 arrest, and he has not been accused of criminal wrongdoing in connection with Epstein’s sex trafficking case. Epstein died in jail later that year while awaiting trial, and Maxwell was convicted in 2021 on federal sex trafficking charges.