Commerce Secretary Lutnick's Epstein ties contradict sworn testimony

The Justice Department released over 3 million pages of Epstein-related documents on Jan. 30, 2026, following the Epstein Files Transparency Act signed by President Trump on Nov. 19, 2025. The act was co-sponsored by Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY) and Rep. Ro Khanna (D-CA) after an initial Dec. 19, 2025, release of 3,500 heavily redacted files drew bipartisan criticism.

Documents revealed Howard Lutnick emailed Jeffrey Epstein in December 2012 asking for coordinates to visit his private island, writing "We are landing in St. Thomas early Saturday afternoon... Where are you located (what is exact location for my captain)? Does Sunday evening for dinner sound good?" Epstein's assistant Lesley Groff confirmed lunch on Little St. James for Dec. 23, 2012.

On Dec. 28, 2012, Lutnick and Epstein each signed documents acquiring stakes in AdFin Solutions Inc., an advertising technology company, establishing a direct business partnership. Additional documents showed Epstein donated $50,000 to a 2017 UJA-Federation charity dinner honoring Lutnick, and Lutnick invited Epstein to a Hillary Clinton fundraiser at Cantor Fitzgerald offices in November 2015.

Lutnick told the Pod Force One podcast in October 2025 he met Epstein once in 2005, found him "disgusting," and vowed "I will never be in the room with that disgusting person ever again." He claimed he was "never in the room with him socially, for business, or even philanthropy."

On Feb. 10, 2026, Lutnick testified before the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science (chaired by Sen. Jerry Moran, R-KS) and acknowledged meeting Epstein two times after 2005: once in 2011 for "an hour-long engagement" at Epstein's home and once in 2012 for the island lunch. He told Sen. Chris Coons (D-DE) he met Epstein "three times over 14 years."

Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-OR) countered that the files showed at least eight instances of interaction after 2005, not three. Sen. CVChris Van Hollen (D-MD) stated the issue wasn't wrongdoing but that Lutnick "totally misrepresented the extent of your relationship" to Congress, the American people, and Epstein's survivors.

President Trump said on Feb. 12, 2026: "No, I wasn't aware of it. No, I didn't—I actually haven't spoken to him about it. But from what I hear, he was there with his wife and children." White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt had said on Feb. 10 that "Secretary Lutnick remains a very important member of President Trump's team, and the president fully supports the secretary."

Bipartisan resignation calls came from Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY): "He should just resign. Howard Lutnick clearly went to the island... he was in business with Jeffrey Epstein"; Sen. LMLisa Murkowski (R-AK): "If they've said didn't know the man, never went to that place... and now we're seeing evidence otherwise, it just causes me to question the credibility and the integrity"; and Sen. ASAdam Schiff (D-CA): "Lutnick lied to the country about his ties to Epstein. Now we learned that they were in business together. He has no business being our Commerce Secretary."