Probably in the early mid-80s, I started buying property as land. This was what you saw today if you drove around W. This was all farmland. Where the house was, was a sod farm. So it was just in the country.
Did Mr. Absene play any role in the acquisition of the property?
Did he play any role in the development of New Albany?
On your property, would you often conduct business meetings?
With anyone he's doing business with.
Okay. Including L Brands.
I think the only business meetings we ever had in the house were business meetings in L Brands community meetings, some university meetings, but no, I don't think we ever had a New Albany meeting. As a business in the house, we'd have it at the New Albany office.
Mr. Wexner, did you ever meet with, socialize with, or otherwise engage with Jeffrey Epstein at your New Albany, Ohio home?
Did you ever meet with, socialize with, or otherwise engage with Jeffrey Epstein at your New Albany home?
I'm sure he was in the house, but I can't remember specific time. I don't remember setting meetings with Jeffrey. Most of the business I had with him was over the phone.
Do you most of the business was over the phone? Do you have any recollection of when he first visited the property?
And do you have any recollection of how often he would visit the property?
So, is it your testimony today that you would not have been aware of every time he visited the property here in New Albany?
Without a question, I wouldn't have known. Yeah. It's like that I wonder about now. Like Jeffrey might call the office and my admin would say to him, 'Mr. Epstein's on the phone. He has to talk to you right away.' And I'd pick up the phone say, 'What is it?' And he'd say, 'Well, I'm in Switzerland talking to a Swiss bank about something.' And he tried to explain it to me. He said, 'You wouldn't understand the transaction. It's really complex.' But I'm really busy, but I needed to tell you this or know that. And I'd say I'm in the middle of a meeting. And I'd hang up. And then, as I said earlier, 15 minutes later, he might call me back. And I look at it now and say he was probably in bed in New York. I didn't know where the hell he was.
Were you aware that Mr. Epstein stayed on your property?
I know he bought Jack Kesler's house, but I don't know when he was there. And that wasn't on your property.
No, that's my neighbor's property, my business partner in New Albany's friend or his house, right? Were you aware that Mr. Epstein stayed at one of your guest houses on the property?
No, that the house he stayed at was Jack Kesler's house, which is an adjacent property. It's about a half mile away.
Mr. Wexner. Epstein survivor Maria Farmer was reportedly brought to the guest house located on your property in 1996.
Objection. He's already told you it wasn't on his property.
I am only bringing up the recollection of an Epstein survivor for the record. Your client is welcome to provide a statement. So again, Maria Farmer was reportedly brought to the guest house in 1996. She stayed there for a summer and claimed she was assaulted there by Mr. Epstein and Miss Maxwell. Mr. Wexner, do you recall who Maria Farmer is?
I know her name from the press.
Did you ever meet Maria Farmer?
Is it your testimony today that you do not know whether Maria Farmer ever stayed on your property?
Do you have any reason to not believe Maria Farmer's account of being abused by Jeffrey Epstein on your property?
Objection. On his property.
Let me be sure I answer this correctly. I never met her. Didn't know she was here. Didn't know she was abused.
You have a large staff that works on your property in New Albany.
I'm laughing. I don't... There's a lot of people around, but I don't know how many.
Can you estimate how many people are working on the property at any given time?
Do you have private security on the property?
I've had private security since 1975.
Are you aware of allegations that security staff on the property detained Maria Farmer until her family was able to pick her up?
I didn't know she was here, so I didn't know her. I didn't know she was here, so I didn't know about her. Pardon me.
And I believe that you testified to this earlier, but to your recollection, did Mr. Epstein personally own property near your home?
He bought the house from Jack. So half a mile away if that's in here.
Was that the address at the 7500 block of King George Drive?
I don't know that address.
Are you aware of the entity New Albany Company LLC?
I think that's what we call the New Albany Company.
Why was this LLC organized?
Because it made business sense.
What was the LLC used for?
I would assume it was for the New Albany project.
Was Jeffrey Epstein involved with this entity?
Only to the degree as a fiduciary financial advisor would be, as Dennis Hirs was. It was a complex project and the family office would look at it.
To be clear, the LLC was used to develop surrounding properties in New Albany.
I don't know that. I would assume that it's in an LLC or it could be the New Albany Company or Corp or Inc. I don't really know that.
How would Jeffrey Epstein travel to New Albany in the beginning of your relationship with him?
I would assume he flew. Either that or he took the train or drove.
Did he fly on your plane?
When he did fly on your plane, did you charge him for using it?
Do you have any recollection of when you first would have started providing flights to Mr. Epstein?
I think that's kind of a trick question. I don't think I ever provided flights for Mr. Epstein.
And you testified that he very rarely flew on your airplane. Can you elaborate on that?
