In an empty lot in downtown New Albany, Ohio, Rep. Jasmine Crockett speaks as members of the US House Democrats held a news conference after deposing Ohio retail mogul Les Wexner Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2026 about his former financial adviser and accused child sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein. Wexner was originally ordered to appear before the committee in a closed-door meeting in Washington, D.C., according to a subpoena. But the location of the deposition was changed to Wexner’s estate in New Albany, Ohio.
Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett is calling out what she describes as a major failure by the Department of Justice in the ongoing Jeffrey Epstein investigation, arguing that federal officials have not taken survivor testimony seriously or pursued meaningful accountability.
In a press conference, Crockett said members of Congress have done what the DOJ has not: repeatedly meet with Epstein survivors and their attorneys to hear their stories firsthand. She criticized Attorney General Pam Bondi, claiming Bondi wouldn’t even acknowledge survivors publicly and has not allowed the department to properly investigate the case. Crockett framed Congress’s involvement as a necessary act of oversight, stepping in where law enforcement has stalled.
According to Crockett, survivors have consistently delivered one clear message: “follow the money.” She said that’s exactly what lawmakers are trying to do by tracing financial records connected to Epstein’s network. However, she admitted investigators are currently hitting “dead ends,” with key information and documentation missing or inaccessible.
Crockett referenced deposition testimony tied to the investigation, saying the public should expect frustration rather than clarity when the full record is released. As a trained attorney, she expected evasive answers, and she believes the testimony will leave the public with more questions than solutions. One detail she highlighted was the “inconceivable” amount of money that appears unaccounted for, while billionaire Leslie Wexner is portrayed as having little knowledge of what was happening.
In an empty lot in downtown New Albany, Ohio, Rep. Jasmine Crockett (center) speaks as members of the US House Democrats held a news conference after deposing Ohio retail mogul Les Wexner Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2026 about his former financial adviser and accused child sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein. Wexner was originally ordered to appear before the committee in a closed-door meeting in Washington, D.C., according to a subpoena. But the location of the deposition was changed to Wexner’s estate in New Albany, Ohio.
She also pointed to a recurring theme described by survivors: young girls seeking modeling opportunities were allegedly targeted through fraudulent modeling agencies across the country. Crockett suggested the repeated references to Victoria’s Secret and promises of runway fame were not coincidences but part of a broader trafficking pipeline, where powerful people dangled opportunity to lure vulnerable victims.
In discussing the deposition, Crockett noted that one topic seemed to stand out clearly—Donald Trump’s name. She said the witness did not fully recall specific details, but believed Trump and Epstein were likely in the same room, referencing Trump’s alleged habit of showing up at Victoria’s Secret runway events despite not being involved in fashion. Crockett also emphasized that Epstein frequently dropped high-profile names, potentially as a tactic to impress or intimidate others.
In an empty lot in downtown New Albany, Ohio, Rep. Robert Garcia, Rep. Stephen Lynch, Rep. Jasmine Crockett, Rep. Yasmin Ansari, and Rep. Dave Min, members of the US House Democrats host a news conference after deposing Ohio retail mogul Les Wexner Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2026 about his former financial adviser and accused child sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein. Wexner was originally ordered to appear before the committee in a closed-door meeting in Washington, D.C., according to a subpoena. But the location of the deposition was changed to Wexner’s mansion in New Albany, Ohio.
Crockett ended with a direct message to survivors: Congress sees them, believes them, and will not stop pushing for answers. She argued that accountability has reached CEOs, board members, and even royalty in other countries, but has not touched the highest levels of U.S. power. If Wexner is sincere about cooperating, she said, he should turn over full financial records so investigators can finally “follow the money” and uncover the truth.
