Who is Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick? Facing bipartisan resign calls over newly revealed Jeffrey Epstein ties. Documents show 2011-2012 contact contradicting his past claims. Full profile.
Inside the Allegations That Howard Lutnick Lied About His Post-Conviction Ties to Jeffrey Epstein (Image: X)
U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick is confronting increasing demands for his resignation from both parties after Justice Department documents contradicted his previous statements about his relationship with the late financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
The documents reveal Lutnick maintained contact and conducted business with Epstein years after Epstein's 2008 guilty plea for sex crimes.
Howard Lutnick is the United States Secretary of Commerce, serving as a key economic advisor in President Donald Trump's cabinet. A former finance executive, Lutnick's tenure has been overshadowed by long-standing questions about his personal and professional links to Jeffrey Epstein. He lived next door to Epstein for over a decade and has now become a central figure in the political fallout from newly released Epstein documents.
The Justice Department files, released in late January, directly contradict Lutnick's previous characterizations of his relationship with Epstein. Key revelations include:
These interactions occurred years after Epstein's 2008 guilty plea for soliciting prostitution from a minor.
Previously, Lutnick claimed he had completely severed ties. On the "Pod Force One" podcast in October, he stated, "I was never in the room with him socially, for business or even philanthropy... That's my story. A one and absolutely done." In response to the new documents, a Department of Commerce spokesperson offered a revised account, stating, "Mr. and Mrs. Lutnick met Jeffrey Epstein in 2005 and had very limited interactions with him over the next 14 years." The White House has issued a statement of support, praising Trump's "transformative cabinet."
Calls for Lutnick to step down are bipartisan:
The scandal has put Lutnick’s job at risk and complicated the House’s Epstein investigation. While the White House continues to publicly support him, the bipartisan criticism is unusual. The controversy also draws attention to ongoing disputes over transparency in the Epstein document release, led by Rep. Massie and Rep. Ro Khanna (D-CA), who are visiting the Justice Department to review unredacted files.
A: In a contentious plea agreement, Jeffrey Epstein admitted to state counts of soliciting prostitution from a juvenile and was sentenced to 13 months in a county jail.
A: The two were neighbors for over a decade in Palm Beach, Florida, prior to Epstein's conviction.
A: It is uncertain. Oversight Chairman James Comer indicated his committee is focused on other high-profile subpoenas first. Any subpoena would require consent from the Republican majority, which has not yet been pursued.
A: As a member of "the best and most transformative cabinet in modern history," White House spokesperson Kush Desai defended Lutnick, saying the government is still committed to "delivering for the American people."
Disclaimer: This information is based on inputs from news agency reports. TSG does not independently confirm the information provided by the relevant sources.
