Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick testified before the House Oversight Committee on Wednesday regarding his past relationship with Jeffrey Epstein. The closed-door deposition, part of an ongoing investigation into Epstein's connections, followed revelations that Lutnick continued correspondence with Epstein after the financier's 2008 conviction for soliciting prostitution from a minor.
Key Takeaways
Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick testified before the House Oversight Committee about his ties to Jeffrey Epstein. Democrats accused him of lying, while Republicans praised his transparency. The White House continues to support Lutnick despite calls for resignation from both parties.
- Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick testified about his relationship with Jeffrey Epstein
- Democrats allege Lutnick lied during testimony and called for his resignation
- Republicans praised Lutnick's transparency but said he would be held accountable if misstatements were found
- White House maintains full support for Lutnick despite calls for resignation
Democrats on the committee alleged that Lutnick lied during his testimony to protect the Trump administration. Rep. Suhas Subramanyam (D-Va.) described Lutnick as evasive, nervous, and dishonest, calling for him to resign. Rep. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.) suggested that if President Donald Trump had seen a video of the deposition, he would have fired Lutnick.
Lutnick testified that he couldn't recall why he and his family had lunch on Epstein's private island in 2012, despite having previously claimed to cut ties with Epstein years earlier. He acknowledged visiting Epstein's island with his family but denied any wrongdoing, stating that the visit lasted only two hours.
Republicans on the committee praised Lutnick's transparency. Rep. James Comer (R-Ky.), the committee chair, said that if any misstatements were found, Lutnick would be held accountable for potentially lying to Congress. Emails released by the Justice Department showed that Lutnik invited Epstein to a 2015 fundraiser for Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton.
Lutnick has maintained that his connection to Epstein was limited despite evidence showing they exchanged emails as late as 2018. During a Senate hearing in February, he acknowledged visiting Epstein's private island in 2012 with his family but denied any wrongdoing. The revelations have led to calls for Lutnick's resignation from some lawmakers, including Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.). Despite these calls, the White House has expressed full support for Lutnick.
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