Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick testified before the House Oversight Committee about his limited interactions with Jeffrey Epstein, according to transcripts released Wednesday. Lutnick claimed he met Epstein only three times and had no personal or professional relationship with the disgraced financier, despite being his next-door neighbor in New York City.
Key Takeaways
Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick testified before the House Oversight Committee about his limited interactions with Jeffrey Epstein, his next-door neighbor. Democrats accused Lutnick of being evasive, while Republicans defended him as transparent.
- Lutnick claimed he met Epstein only three times and had no personal or professional relationship
- Democrats criticized Lutnick for changing accounts of his interactions with Epstein
- Republicans argued Democrats were pushing a narrative to damage President Trump
- Lutnick acknowledged visiting Epstein's private island in 2012, contradicting previous statements
Democrats on the committee accused Lutnick of being evasive, saying he 'made a farce of the English language' to mislead the public. They called on him to resign over his changing accounts of interactions with Epstein. Republican Chairman James Comer defended Lutnick, arguing that Democrats were pushing a narrative to damage President Trump.
Lutnick acknowledged visiting Epstein's private island in 2012 with his family, contradicting previous statements where he claimed to have cut ties with Epstein in 2005. He also recounted a 'crude' remark Epstein made about massages during a visit to Epstein's townhouse, which led him to avoid further interactions.
The committee's investigation into Epstein's crimes has focused on the Trump administration's handling of the case. Lutnick is the first current Trump administration official to testify before the panel. The committee also plans to hear from former Attorney General Pam Bondi later this month.
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