Lutnick Answers Questions on Epstein Ties in Closed-Door House Interview

A senior Trump administration official with documented past connections to Jeffrey Epstein is again explaining those links to Congress. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick sat for a transcribed interview Wednesday with the Republican-led House Oversight Committee, part of an ongoing review of Epstein's network of influential contacts. The session, held behind closed doors with a transcript expected later, underscores persistent questions about judgment and transparency among powerful figures years after Epstein's 2019 death.

The central tension revolves around the gap between Lutnick's earlier statements and later revelations. Lutnick, formerly CEO of Cantor Fitzgerald, has said he and his wife met Epstein in 2005 as Manhattan neighbors. He described touring Epstein's brownstone, hearing a comment about receiving "the right kind of massages," and immediately deciding to sever contact, telling his wife in the short walk home that he would never be in the same room with "that disgusting person" again. Yet documents released by the Department of Justice in late 2025 and early 2026 showed continued communication. Lutnick acknowledged in February Senate testimony that he and his family joined Epstein for a one-hour lunch on his private Caribbean island in December 2012, more than four years after Epstein's 2008 Florida conviction for soliciting prostitution from a minor. He emphasized his wife, four children and nannies were present throughout. "We were on family vacation. We were not apart," he said, according to a transcript. No accusations of wrongdoing have been leveled at Lutnick.

Committee Chairman James Comer, a Kentucky Republican, commended Lutnick in March for his "demonstrated commitment to transparency" after the secretary agreed to appear voluntarily. The interview followed threats from some Democrats to subpoena him. Rep. Nancy Mace, a South Carolina Republican, had pushed for his testimony and previously criticized the idea of lunching with a convicted sex offender. Rep. Thomas Massie, another Republican, stated Lutnick had "a lot to answer for." A Commerce Department spokesperson called the renewed focus "inaccurate and baseless claims in the media designed to distract from his historic work" securing investments and trade deals. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt affirmed in February that President Trump "fully supports" Lutnick as "a very important member" of the team.

The appearance fits a broader House Oversight review of Epstein's ties to wealthy and political figures. The committee has questioned former President Bill Clinton and Hillary Clinton, both of whom stated they had no knowledge of his crimes. Former Attorney General Pam Bondi is scheduled to appear later this month. Tech billionaire Bill Gates faces questioning in June. Lutnick's name surfaced in the DOJ document release alongside an undated photograph of him with Epstein and others on a clifftop. CBS News reported business overlaps between Lutnick's Adfin firm and Epstein entities as late as 2014. One DOJ schedule listed a 2011 appointment. Inclusion in such files does not indicate wrongdoing.

Lutnick has maintained the contacts were limited. In an October 2025 podcast interview he recounted the 2005 encounter as the breaking point. His February Senate appearance addressed apparent discrepancies directly. Democrats on the committee, including Ranking Member Robert Garcia of California, have pressed him on the timeline during prior hearings. One April exchange saw Rep. Madeleine Dean ask why he had "lied about your relationship," though Lutnick redirected to the hearing's budget topic. Attendance at Wednesday's session remained uncertain because the House was in recess. A spokesperson for Lutnick noted the format matched prior committee interviews.

The episode highlights how Epstein's shadow still falls across Washington and Wall Street. Epstein died by suicide in jail while facing federal sex trafficking charges. His lenient 2008 plea deal continues to draw criticism. Lutnick's case adds to scrutiny of Trump administration picks, even as Comer, a Republican, leads the probe. Right-leaning outlets have offered limited coverage. Left-leaning reports emphasized the contradictions. What remains unverified are claims of contact continuing until 2018 and specific GOP calls for resignation carried in some accounts but not corroborated elsewhere. The transcript may clarify remaining questions. For now Lutnick's cooperation closes one chapter while the wider investigation continues.