Image courtesy of NBC News. From ‘The Epstein saga engulfs Les Wexner — and the Ohio he helped build’ (February 20, 2026). Credit: Henry J. Gomez. Source: https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/politics-news/epstein-saga-engulfs-les-wexner-ohio-rcna258821. © Original owner. Used under fair use.
The Epstein Saga Engulfs Les Wexner — and the Ohio He Helped Build
In 1990, Leslie Wexner’s $100,000 contribution to Republican George Voinovich’s successful campaign for governor opened doors that had sometimes been difficult for him to walk through in his home state. Aided by new friends in the Voinovich administration, Wexner transformed a small town into an exurban enclave around his mansion, built an upscale shopping mall anchored by his stores, and solidified his status as an Ohio power broker.
Yet, decades later, Wexner’s ties to Jeffrey Epstein have upended his legacy and put Ohio’s political leaders under scrutiny. As new details emerge from the ongoing investigations into Epstein’s crimes, politicians across the state are being pressured to distance themselves from Wexner’s money.
Wexner’s denials of knowledge regarding an allegation made by Epstein survivor Maria Farmer that she was assaulted at an Ohio property owned by him in 1996 have done little to quell the controversy. In a statement submitted to the House Oversight Committee, Wexner admitted he had been “naïve, foolish, and gullible” to trust Epstein but maintained he has never witnessed or had any knowledge of Epstein’s criminal activity.
The fallout from the Epstein saga is far-reaching. Rep. Joyce Beatty, one of the few Democrats outside Columbus city government to whom Wexner donated with regularity, has redirected all contributions received from him to groups supporting victims of sex trafficking and abuse. State Treasurer Robert Sprague, a Republican candidate for Ohio secretary of state, donated the $23,000 he received from Wexner in 2022 to a local housing services organization, citing “the increasingly disturbing reports concerning Les Wexner.”
Other politicians have been less forthcoming. Sen. Bernie Moreno, an Ohio Republican who received $3,500 from Wexner in June, does not plan to return the donation or redirect it to charity. Moreno, a former car dealer who was elected in 2024, is the rare newcomer to Ohio politics who has received money from Wexner while aligning himself tightly with President Donald Trump.
Wexner’s political contributions have primarily gone to Democrats over the years, but none of the more than $4.3 million he has donated since 1980 has gone to Trump or Vice President JD Vance, who won a Senate seat in Ohio with Trump’s endorsement in 2022, or to businessman Vivek Ramaswamy, the Trump-backed candidate for Ohio governor this year.
Wexner’s influence in Ohio politics began during the Voinovich years and continued through the Kasich administration. In 2023, Wexner donated $100,000 to the political action committee that Kasich and his team kept alive after his unsuccessful run for president seven years earlier.
Younger Republican operatives in Ohio view Wexner as a curiosity and describe him as an anachronism whose influence is still felt, even if they have never met him. Some worry the ongoing investigations into Epstein’s crimes could further tarnish Wexner and embarrass the region.
“With some people, particularly outside of Columbus, it’s all they’re going to know,” a community leader said. “It’s drip, drip, drip, drip, drip of guilt by association. It could be hard for anybody to actually explain the nature of the relationship or even understand it. I don’t know that anybody does.”
For everyday Americans, the saga raises questions about the influence of wealthy individuals on politics and the accountability of those who wield such power. As the investigations continue, it remains to be seen how the Epstein scandal will impact Wexner’s legacy in Ohio and beyond.
Henry J. Gomez is a senior national political reporter for NBC News. Published: Fri, 20 Feb 2026 10:00:00 GMT Authors: Henry J. Gomez
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