Local billionaire Les Wexner was again absent from the Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center board on June 2, leaving the board without its namesake for more than a year amid increased scrutiny over his ties to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
Wexner, who chairs the medical center board, last appeared at one of its meetings in May 2025. It was the only meeting he attended that year. Wexner attended three of the four meetings held in 2024. He has not attended any meetings in 2026.
Wexner has been under renewed fire after millions of records were released by the U.S. Department of Justice, further detailing his already well-documented relationship with Epstein. Epstein was facing federal charges for alleged child sex trafficking in Florida and New York when authorities say he died by suicide in jail in 2019.
Epstein acted as Wexner’s financial adviser for decades and at one point had power of attorney for him. The New Albany businessman has said he cut ties with Epstein in 2007 after discovering Epstein had stolen money from him.
However, federal records show they were in touch in 2008, the same year Epstein pleaded guilty to soliciting sex from a minor. Federal lawmakers deposed Wexner at his New Albany home in February over his connection to Epstein.
Accusers of Epstein filed a lawsuit against Wexner in March, alleging he funded Epstein’s crimes.
The university’s health system cemented the name of the retail giant and 1959 Ohio State graduate onto its facilities after a $100-million donation in 2011, one of the largest in the university’s history. Students, faculty and other community groups have called for Wexner’s name to be removed from the medical center and the university.
He has been medical system board chair since 2013.
What bylaws, Ohio revised code say about absenteeism
Wexner’s frequent absences could conflict with Ohio Revised Code 3.17, which sets attendance requirements for board members to stay on public boards.
The law states that members of a board, commission, council, board of trustees of an institution of higher education or other “public body of the state” must attend at least 60% of meetings over a two-year period or forfeit their position. Wexner’s attendance record for 2024 and 2025 wouldn’t meet that threshold.
But a university spokesperson said that the revised code only applies to trustees appointed by the governor. The medical center board is under the “full governance and fiduciary authority” of the university’s board of trustees, according to the university spokesperson. Trustees, rather than the governor, appoint members of the medical center board.
The medical center board, the university spokesperson said, does not have any specific attendance requirements.
Ohio Revised Code 3.17 does not appear to differentiate between governor-appointed board members and other board members. Exemptions are made for Ohio lawmakers or a judge of any court in the state.
A spokesperson for Wexner did not immediately respond to an email asking why Wexner was absent from the meeting or if he plans to step down as board chair, given his string of absences.
Business and consumer issues reporter Samantha Hendrickson can be reached at shendrickson@dispatch.com
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Wexner absent from OSU hospital board for a year amid Epstein scrutiny
Reporting by Samantha Hendrickson, Columbus Dispatch / The Columbus Dispatch
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