Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick is about to testify behind closed doorways on Wednesday about his relationship with Jeffrey Epstein, making him the primary Trump Cupboard official to face questions as a part of the Home Oversight Committee investigation.
Lutnick agreed to the voluntary transcribed interview after months of criticism over his relationship with Epstein — who was as soon as Lutnick’s neighbor — and previous statements distancing himself from the infamous intercourse offender.
Throughout an interview final 12 months with The New York Put up, Lutnick described Epstein as “gross” and claimed that he stated in 2005 he would “by no means be within the room with that disgusting particular person ever once more” after touring Epstein’s New York Metropolis mansion.
Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick delivers his funds estimates to the Home Committee on Appropriations Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science, and Associated Businesses funds listening to on the Capitol in Washington, Thursday, April 23, 2026.
Jose Luis Magana/AP
Nonetheless, paperwork launched by the Division of Justice confirmed that Lutnick planned a visit to Epstein’s private island in 2012 — years after Epstein pleaded responsible to 2 prostitution-related fees in 2008.
“We’re wanting ahead to visiting you,” Lutnick’s spouse emailed Epstein’s assistant. “We might love to hitch you for lunch.”
When requested concerning the paperwork in February, Lutnick acknowledged he visited the island and stated that he didn’t see something inappropriate throughout his go to.
“I did have lunch with him, as I used to be on a ship going throughout on a household trip. My spouse was with me, as had been my 4 kids and nannies,” Lutnick testified on Capitol Hill in February.
Whereas the DOJ’s Epstein recordsdata included a photograph from that journey, the Division of Justice acknowledged they briefly eliminated the photograph earlier than restoring it following backlash. A DOJ official claimed that the photograph was briefly eliminated with a “batch of recordsdata that had been flagged for nudity,” although the photograph didn’t include any nudity and didn’t embrace any redactions when it was restored.
Lutnick additionally appeared to enter a enterprise take care of Epstein in 2012, in response to paperwork launched by the Division of Justice. Each males signed enterprise paperwork in 2012 to amass an promoting firm known as Adfin.
Different paperwork launched by the DOJ confirmed Epstein agreed to donate $50,000 in 2017 associated to a dinner hosted in Lutnick’s honor.
Throughout his New York Put up interview final 12 months, Lutnick stated he believed that Epstein could have used blackmail to get the “sweetheart deal” he obtained throughout his first prison case in 2008.
President Donald Trump listens as Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick speaks within the Oval Workplace of the White Home earlier than he indicators an govt order Tuesday, March 31, 2026, in Washington.
Alex Brandon/AP
“I assume, approach again when, they traded these movies in trade for him getting that 18-month sentence, which allowed him to have visits and be out of jail. I imply, he is a serial intercourse offender. How might he get 18 months and be capable of go to his workplace in the course of the day and have guests and stuff? There should have been a commerce,” Lutnick stated.
However these allegations distinction with statements from a number of Trump administration officers who’ve insisted that Epstein neither trafficked younger ladies for folks past himself nor held compromising details about high-profile people,
“There isn’t any credible data. None. If there have been, I’d carry the case yesterday that he trafficked to different people,” FBI Director Kash Patel stated final 12 months.
When requested about Lutnick’s relationship with Epstein in February, President Trump described Lutnick as a “very harmless man” and steered he could be keen to testify.
“Properly, Howard would go in and do no matter he has to say,” Trump stated. “He is a really harmless man, doing a very good job.”
