A resurfaced image linked to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein has once again stirred controversy in the United States, placing senior officials under renewed scrutiny. The photo, which appears to show a prominent US cabinet member walking behind Epstein on his private island, surfaced online after independent tech workers analysed downloaded Epstein-related files. The development comes at a sensitive moment, as the official at the centre of the controversy is also on an unscheduled visit to India, holding high-level trade talks.
The image does not appear on the official website of the US Department of Justice, prompting questions about its absence and triggering a broader debate around transparency, redactions, and accountability.
Who is Howard Lutnick?
Howard Lutnick is the current US Secretary of Commerce and a longtime Wall Street executive best known as the chief executive of Cantor Fitzgerald. He rose to national prominence after leading the firm’s recovery following the 9/11 attacks, in which Cantor lost hundreds of employees. Over the years, Lutnick has built a reputation as a powerful financial figure with close ties to political and business leaders.
In recent days, however, Lutnick has found himself in the spotlight for reasons far removed from trade and economics, after a photo allegedly showing him with Jeffrey Epstein resurfaced online.
Epstein Files Latest Leaked Photo: How the Photo Emerged Through ‘jmail’?
The image came to light through “jmail,” a project created by two independent tech workers who downloaded the entire cache of newly released Epstein-related emails and attachments. They built a searchable archive and identified the image under the filename EFTA01230639.
The DOJ removed this photo of what appears to be Howard Lutnick. You can still access it on Jmailhttps://t.co/4kMl1kOTpT pic.twitter.com/ETx5oUWz27
— Jmail (@jmailarchive) February 26, 2026
Notably, the file name did not match any material visible on the DOJ’s official webpage. This discrepancy led to speculation that the image had been excluded from the public-facing release.
Epstein Island Photo Sparks Fresh Scrutiny
The controversy erupted after a photo surfaced online that appears to show Lutnick walking behind Epstein on Little St James, the island where multiple victims have said they were sexually abused. The image began circulating after independent tech workers discovered it while reviewing downloaded material from the so-called Epstein Files.
The image did not appear on the official release hosted on the US Department of Justice website, raising immediate questions about why it was missing and whether it had been withheld.
DOJ Says Image Was Pulled for Review
A DOJ official later addressed the issue, saying the image belonged to a batch of thousands of files that were flagged for nudity and temporarily removed for additional review. According to the official, the files are being processed for required redactions and “no files are being deleted.”
While the DOJ did not confirm details about the image’s contents, the official did not deny that Lutnick appears in the photo. The department has said the reviewed files will be uploaded once the redaction process is complete.
What Lutnick Has Said About Epstein?
Lutnick, 64, has previously faced questions about his relationship with Epstein. In an earlier interview on a pro-Donald Trump podcast, he said he met Epstein only once in 2005, after moving next door to him, and claimed he ended all contact that same year.
However, emails released by the DOJ show exchanges between the two that continued well beyond that period. The messages reportedly include arrangements for lunches, phone calls, and visits, even after Epstein’s 2008 conviction for soliciting a minor. The newly surfaced image adds another data point to Lutnick’s documented interactions with Epstein.
Public records already indicated that Lutnick had visited Little St James with his wife, children, and nannies for what he described as a picnic.
Internal Tensions Within the Trump Administration
Separate from the Epstein-related controversy, reports have also highlighted internal friction involving Lutnick within the Trump administration. According to accounts cited by Politico, Lutnick required his staff to obtain personal approval before communicating with other departments, creating delays and frustration.
Officials said Commerce Department representatives sometimes attended interagency meetings without the ability to share positions or information. Reports also claimed Lutnick inserted himself into discussions outside his expertise and occasionally raised his voice during disagreements. Sources said Donald Trump confronted Lutnick over internal tensions, though not specifically over Epstein-related issues.
Epstein Files Latest Leaked Photo: Howard Lutnick’s Unscheduled Visit to India
Amid the controversy, Lutnick made an unscheduled visit to India, arriving in New Delhi just days after the US Supreme Court struck down President Trump’s sweeping global tariffs.
Lutnick held a lunch meeting with India’s Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal, which both sides described as productive and focused on strengthening trade and economic cooperation. US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor also attended the meeting.
Later, Lutnick departed for Jodhpur, where he is attending the wedding of Ayesha Arora, daughter of tech executive Nikesh Arora.
The resurfaced Epstein image, the DOJ’s review process, and Lutnick’s high-level diplomatic engagements have converged to place the US Commerce Secretary under intense public scrutiny. As the DOJ continues to process Epstein-related files and global trade discussions move forward, questions around transparency, accountability, and leadership remain firmly in focus.
