Maria Farmer Condemns Les Wexner’s Downplaying of Epstein Ties, Details Threats at Ohio Estate

Maria Farmer, one of the earliest known accusers of Jeffrey Epstein, has issued a pointed critique of billionaire retail magnate Les Wexner’s recent congressional testimony regarding his relationship with Epstein. In her statement, Farmer condemned Wexner’s assertion that he was unaware of criminal activity tied to Epstein and described himself as having been misled.

Wexner, the 88-year-old founder of L Brands, told lawmakers this week that he severed ties with Epstein in 2007 and never witnessed any abuse or other criminal conduct during their association. He also stated he granted Epstein sweeping control over his finances for years before cutting off contact.

Farmer, who has long alleged that Epstein and his associate Ghislaine Maxwell sexually assaulted her in the 1990s, directly challenged Wexner’s account. “Wexner’s reported downplaying of his relationship with Epstein is abhorrent, particularly given Maxwell’s own description of him as Epstein’s closest friend,” she wrote.

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

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

Farmer emphasized that Wexner’s deposition is being used to achieve accountability and justice for survivors whose trauma has been ignored, dismissed, or discounted. She noted that Wexner has not been accused of criminal wrongdoing in connection with Epstein’s sex trafficking case and has maintained he cut off contact with the disgraced financier more than a decade before Epstein’s 2019 arrest.