WASHINGTON (AP) — Under intense scrutiny, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick admitted during a Senate hearing that he had met with Jeffrey Epstein twice after Epstein's 2008 conviction for soliciting prostitution from a child. This revelation stands in stark contrast to Lutnick's previous assertions that he had ceased all contact with Epstein after 2005.
Lutnick minimized the nature of his relationship with Epstein, who was a former neighbor in New York City. He described the interactions as limited to a few emails and two in-person meetings spaced several years apart.
“I had no significant relationship with him,” Lutnick stated to the committee. Yet, he now faces mounting pressure from legislators across the political spectrum, calling for his resignation following the release of case files detailing Epstein's connections.
Lutnick revealed during questioning that he and his family had lunch with Epstein on his private island in 2012 and briefly visited his residence in 2011, contradicting earlier claims made during a podcast last year when he asserted he would never again be in the same room as Epstein following an unsettling visit to Epstein's estate in 2005.
This scrutiny comes at a time when U.S. officials have largely avoided the retribution seen in countries like the United Kingdom, where similar revelations surrounding Epstein have resulted in resignations and the stripping of royal privileges.
Sen. Chris Van Hollen, who questioned Lutnick during the hearing, pointed out that while there is no indication of Lutnick's wrongdoing with Epstein, misleading statements to Congress and the public could be grounds for further accountability.
Rep. Thomas Massie, a Republican from Kentucky, echoed these sentiments, calling for Lutnick's resignation after the release of emails suggesting meetings with Epstein. California Democrat Rep. Ro Khanna joined the chorus, demanding that Lutnick step down from his post.
Khanna raised critical questions regarding the implications of Lutnick's associations with Epstein: “Are we going to allow the rich and powerful people who are friends with those who have been accused of heinous crimes to escape accountability?”
