CLEVELAND, Ohio – During a recent visit to the United Kingdom, former President Donald Trump faced protests that featured projections of both himself and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein on Windsor Castle. The demonstration included large banners depicting the two figures. At a press conference with U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer, Trump was asked about the dismissal of U.K. Ambassador to the U.S., Peter Mendalson, due to his connections to Epstein. Trump deflected responsibility, claiming he was unfamiliar with Mendalson, despite having met him just days earlier in the Oval Office.
Mendalson is known to have been a contributor to Epstein’s infamous ‘Birthday Book’, a leather-bound collection of messages, some of which are considered lewd. Notably, Les Wexner, founder of Victoria’s Secret and a key figure in Epstein’s financial dealings, also appears in this book. Reports from Cleveland.com/The Plain Dealer indicate that Wexner’s name has surfaced multiple times in connection with Epstein, as the latter was once his personal money manager.
The House Oversight Committee is advancing discussions on the ‘Epstein Files Transparency Act’, aimed at fully disclosing the Department of Justice’s files related to Epstein. According to committee sources, both Trump and Wexner are mentioned frequently in these documents. Epstein served on the board of trustees for Wexner’s company, L Brands, and held power of attorney over Wexner’s financial matters from 1991 until their reported severance around 2006.
Wexner has publicly denied any sexual involvement with Epstein’s victims, including the late Virginia Guiffre, who claimed to have had multiple sexual encounters with him. Wexner’s legal representatives have stated that he was never involved in any wrongdoing and had no acquaintance with Guiffre. In a statement, Wexner expressed regret over his association with Epstein, calling it “abhorrent behavior”.
“I am embarrassed to be linked to [Epstein],” Wexner said in 2019. “Being taken advantage of by someone who was so sick, so cunning, so depraved is something that I am embarrassed that I was even close to.” He added that such experiences are reflections of betrayal that can occur in anyone’s life.
Amid these developments, former U.S. Attorney Alex Acosta is scheduled to testify before the House Oversight Committee. Acosta, who was the U.S. prosecutor in Florida during Epstein’s initial investigation, has faced criticism for the lenient plea deal offered to Epstein. This controversial agreement allowed Epstein to evade more severe penalties for crimes involving minors.
As investigations continue, the implications of these connections and the pursuit of transparency remain at the forefront of public interest, underscoring the complex web of relationships surrounding Epstein and his associates.
