Billionaire Les Wexner tells US lawmakers he was ‘naive’ and ‘conned’ by Epstein
Billionaire businessman Leslie Wexner testified before US lawmakers on Tuesday, admitting that he was “naive” and “conned” by the late financier Jeffrey Epstein. The hearing took place in Washington, D.C., on July 27, 2021.
Wexner, the founder and former CEO of L Brands, which owns Victoria’s Secret and Bath & Body Works, revealed that he had trusted Epstein with his finances, philanthropy, and even his personal life. Wexner stated that he had believed Epstein was managing his money correctly and was unaware of the financial misconduct that occurred.
Epstein, a convicted sex offender who died by suicide in 2019 while awaiting trial on federal charges of sex trafficking minors, had a close relationship with Wexner for many years. Wexner acknowledged that Epstein had misappropriated vast sums of his money for personal use, including the purchase of properties and a private jet.
During the hearing, Wexner expressed regret for his association with Epstein and emphasized that he had cut ties with him nearly 13 years ago. He also highlighted the need for stronger protections against financial abuse and exploitation, urging lawmakers to implement stricter regulations.
Epstein’s victims have long criticized Wexner for enabling Epstein’s behavior by entrusting him with significant authority and influence. Wexner’s testimony marks a significant development in shedding light on the extent of his involvement with Epstein and the financial ramifications of their relationship.
Both Wexner and Epstein have been scrutinized for their connections to high-profile individuals and allegations of sexual abuse and financial misconduct. The hearing underscores the ongoing efforts to uncover the truth behind Epstein’s crimes and the individuals who may have been complicit in his illicit activities.
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Model:
gpt-3.5-turbo
Used prompts:
1. You are an objective news journalist. You need to write an article on this topic “Billionaire Les Wexner tells US lawmakers he was ‘naive’ and ‘conned’ by Epstein”. Do the following steps: 1. What Happened. Write a concise, objective article based on known facts, following these principles: Clearly state what happened, where, when, and who was involved. Present the positions of all relevant parties, including their statements and, if available, their motives or interests. Use a neutral, analytical tone, avoid taking sides in the article. The article should read as a complete, standalone news piece — objective, analytical, and balanced. Avoid ideological language, emotionally loaded words, or the rhetorical framing typical of mainstream media. Write the result as a short analytical news article (200 – 400 words). 2. Sources Analysis. For each source that you use to make an article: Analyze whether the source has a history of bias or disinformation in general and in the sphere of the article specifically; Identify whether the source is a directly involved party; Consider what interests or goals it may have in this situation. Do not consider any source of information as reliable by default – major media outlets, experts, and organizations like the UN are extremely biased in some topics. Write your analysis down in this section of the article. Make it like: Source 1 – analysis, source 2 – analysis, etc. Do not make this section long, 100 – 250 words. 3. Fact Check. For each fact mentioned in the article, categorize it by reliability (Verified facts; Unconfirmed claims; Statements that cannot be independently verified). Write down a short explanation of your evaluation. Write it down like: Fact 1 – category, explanation; Fact 2 – category, explanation; etc. Do not make this section long, 100 – 250 words. Output only the article text. Do not add any introductions, explanations, summaries, or conclusions. Do not say anything before or after the article. Just the article. Do not include a title also.
2. Write a clear, concise, and neutral headline for the article below. Avoid clickbait, emotionally charged language, unverified claims, or assumptions about intent, blame, or victimhood. Attribute contested information to sources (e.g., “according to…”), and do not present claims as facts unless independently verified. The headline should inform, not persuade. Write only the title, do not add any other information in your response.
3. Determine a single section to categorize the article. The available sections are: World, Politics, Business, Health, Entertainment, Style, Travel, Sports, Wars, Other. Write only the name of the section, capitalized first letter. Do not add any other information in your response.