US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick has agreed to testify before a congressional panel investigating the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. According to multiple reports, Lutnick "proactively agreed" to appear voluntarily for a transcribed interview as part of the House Oversight Committee investigation.
Key Takeaways
US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick has agreed to testify before Congress about his ties to Jeffrey Epstein. He acknowledged visiting Epstein's private island in 2012 but denied any wrongdoing. The Clintons also testified, denying knowledge of Epstein's crimes.
- US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick to testify voluntarily before the House Oversight Committee
- Lutnick visited Epstein's private island in 2012 but claims no wrongdoing
- Bill and Hillary Clinton testified, denying any knowledge of Epstein's crimes
- Justice Department released millions of documents related to Epstein investigations
- Seven other high-profile individuals also called to testify
The announcement comes days after former US President Bill Clinton and his wife, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, both testified in the inquiry. The commerce secretary has not been accused of any wrongdoing by Epstein's victims but acknowledged visiting Epstein's private island in 2012, years after the financier was convicted of sex crimes.
Lutnick is among a series of high-profile people named in more than 3.5 million documents released by the justice department as mandated by law. The revelation that Lutnick visited Epstein's island long after he asserted that he had cut off contact led to bipartisan calls for his resignation from the Trump administration.
House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer commended Lutnick's commitment to transparency and appreciated his willingness to engage with the committee. No date has been publicly shared for Lutnick's testimony, but Comer also called on seven others to appear before the committee for transcribed interviews, including Microsoft billionaire Bill Gates.
The Clintons testified that they did not have any prior knowledge of Epstein's crimes and had cut ties with him before his conviction in Florida in 2008. While neither Clinton has been accused of any wrongdoing by Epstein's victims, Bill Clinton is included in investigative files related to the sexual predator.
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