Congressional Democrats Slam Commerce Secretary Lutnick Over Epstein Ties

Congressional Democrats harshly criticized Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick on Wednesday for allegedly misrepresenting his relationship with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein during a closed-door session with the House Oversight Committee.

Rep. Yassamin Ansari (D-Ariz.) emerged from the meeting to tell reporters that Lutnick is a “pathological liar” who is complicit in “the most egregious cover-up in American history.” Her Democratic colleagues echoed these sentiments, with Rep. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.) insisting that “If Donald Trump had seen the video transcript, he would have fired Howard Lutnick.”

The controversy centers on Lutnick’s previous public statements that he had no contact with Epstein after 2005, when he and his wife briefly met the disgraced financier at his apartment. However, documents released earlier this year revealed that their relationship extended beyond that date, including a 2012 lunch visit to Epstein’s Caribbean island that Lutnick had not previously disclosed.

During Wednesday’s interview, Lutnick acknowledged the 2012 island visit but characterized it as brief and “unsettling,” noting that he was surprised Epstein’s assistant knew he and his family were vacationing in the U.S. Virgin Islands. According to a Commerce Department spokesperson, Lutnick answered nearly 400 questions during the hours-long session.

“He explained repeatedly that three encounters do not constitute a relationship,” the spokesperson said. “The committee adjourned without identifying any evidence to the contrary.”

The Commerce Secretary also told the panel that he never witnessed Epstein with young women or observed anything inappropriate during their limited interactions, according to a source familiar with the testimony.

House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer (R-Ky.) defended Lutnick, describing him as “very forthcoming” during the session while acknowledging that the secretary “wasn’t 100% truthful with whether or not he had been on the island.”

“We’re going to ask him all these questions, and we’ll let the American people judge whether the credibility was damaged or not,” Comer told reporters.

The Republican chairman also accused Democrats of mischaracterizing Lutnick’s testimony and suggested they were attempting to distract from other ongoing investigations. “The only cover-up that I’ve seen on the Oversight Committee is the cover-up of the Democrats trying to cover up our investigations,” Comer said, referencing probes into various alleged frauds.

The controversy surrounds Lutnick’s previous residence next to Epstein’s Manhattan home from 2005 until 2019, when Epstein died by suicide in a New York correctional center after being indicted on federal sex trafficking charges. This proximity has raised questions about their relationship, particularly in light of Lutnick’s revised timeline.

Democrats in Congress have seized on these inconsistencies as part of a broader investigation into Epstein’s network of powerful connections. The scrutiny marks a shift for Democrats, who have faced criticism for not pursuing the Epstein case more aggressively during previous administrations.

The Trump administration has largely stood by Lutnick despite calls for his resignation from Democrats and a handful of Republicans, including Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.).

Comer highlighted the bipartisan nature of the committee’s Epstein investigation, noting that former Attorney General Pam Bondi is scheduled for a transcribed interview on May 29, with tech billionaire Bill Gates slated to testify on June 10.

“There’s never been a chairman bring in Cabinet secretaries of their own party,” Comer said. “I think people can see that this is a bipartisan investigation. We’re really sincerely trying to get the truth. Our goal is to provide justice for the victims.”

Lutnick did not respond to reporters’ questions as he left the Oversight Committee room on Wednesday.