Commerce Secretary Lutnick Admits to Post-Conviction Meetings with Jeffrey Epstein

Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick acknowledged during Senate testimony Tuesday that he met twice with Jeffrey Epstein after the late financier’s 2008 conviction for soliciting prostitution from a minor, contradicting his previous claims of cutting ties in 2005.

Under questioning from Democrats at a Senate Appropriations subcommittee hearing, Lutnick revealed that he and his family had lunch on Epstein’s private island in 2012 and attended another hour-long meeting at Epstein’s home in 2011, years after Epstein’s conviction.

“I did not have any relationship with him. I barely had anything to do with him,” Lutnick told lawmakers, attempting to downplay their connection.

The admission comes after newly released Epstein case files contradicted Lutnick’s statements from a podcast last year, where he claimed he decided to “never be in the room” with Epstein following a disturbing 2005 tour of Epstein’s home that allegedly troubled both him and his wife.

Lutnick, a prominent member of President Donald Trump’s Cabinet, now faces growing bipartisan scrutiny and calls for his resignation. He is the highest-profile U.S. official to face such pressure amid revelations contained in what has become known as the “Epstein files.”

Despite the controversy, the White House is standing by him. Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt stated Tuesday that Lutnick “remains a very important member of President Trump’s team, and the president fully supports the secretary.”

Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), who questioned Lutnick during the hearing, emphasized the issue wasn’t potential wrongdoing with Epstein but rather Lutnick’s misleading statements. “It’s the fact that you believe that you misled the country and the Congress based on your earlier statements,” Van Hollen said.

While stopping short of demanding Lutnick’s resignation, Van Hollen has requested documentation regarding any ties between the Commerce Secretary and Epstein. Lutnick responded that he would “give that request some thought,” adding, “I have nothing to hide.”

Several Republican senators have also expressed concern. Senator Roger Wicker (R-Miss.) noted that visiting Epstein’s private island “would raise questions,” while Senator Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) suggested Lutnick “would do himself a service by just laying out exactly what did and what did not happen over the course of what seems to be an interesting relationship.”

Senate Majority Leader John Thune, without specifically naming Lutnick, said those mentioned in the Epstein files will “have to answer questions around that,” adding that “the American people are going to have to make judgments about whether or not they think those answers are sufficient.”

The controversy has sparked stronger reactions in the House of Representatives, where Republican Rep. Thomas Massie of Kentucky and Democratic Rep. Ro Khanna of California have directly called for Lutnick’s resignation. Massie issued his call over the weekend after emails were released alluding to meetings between Lutnick and Epstein.

“Based on the evidence, he should be out of the Cabinet,” Khanna said Monday. He added that the issue transcends individuals, asking, “Are we going to allow the rich and powerful people who are friends and had no problem doing business and showing up with a pedophile who is raping underage girls, are we just going to allow them to skate?”

The growing pressure on Lutnick highlights differences in accountability between the U.S. and other countries like the United Kingdom, where the Epstein files have triggered resignations and the stripping of royal privileges. So far, American officials implicated in the files have not faced similar consequences.