Lutnick admits 2012 Epstein island visit as bipartisan calls for resignation grow

WASHINGTON, DC: Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick came under bipartisan criticism on Tuesday, February 10, after publicly acknowledging that he visited Jeffrey Epstein’s private island in 2012. Testifying before a Senate Appropriations subcommittee, Lutnick sought to distance himself from the late s*x offender, claiming he "barely had anything to do with that person" despite appearing multiple times in newly released Department of Justice records.

The admission represents a notable departure from Lutnick’s earlier public statements. In a podcast interview last year, he said that he and his wife had agreed in 2005 to "never be in the room" with Epstein again following what he described as a brief and inappropriate encounter at Epstein's New York residence.

Records contradict previous public claims

Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md) led the questioning, accusing Lutnick of having "totally misrepresented" the extent of his relationship with Epstein to Congress and the American people. Van Hollen noted that federal records show Lutnick and Epstein maintained interactions for at least 13 years, continuing long after Epstein’s 2008 conviction for soliciting prostitution from a minor. 

"Mr. Secretary, the issue is not that you engaged in any wrongdoing... but that you totally misrepresented the extent of your relationship with him," Van Hollen said during the hearing. Lutnick countered that he had only met Epstein three times over 14 years and maintained that he has done "absolutely nothing wrong".

Family vacation included island lunch

Under pressure from lawmakers, Lutnick detailed a December 2012 lunch on Epstein’s private Caribbean island, Little St. James. He explained that he was on a yacht vacation with his wife, four children, nannies, and another couple when they anchored near the island for about an hour.

While Lutnick claimed there was nothing "untoward" about the meeting and that he did not recall exactly why they went, DOJ records show an active email exchange between the two men to coordinate the visit. On the day of the lunch, Lutnick’s wife reportedly emailed Epstein’s secretary for anchoring directions, and Epstein followed up the next day with a message that read, "Nice seeing you".

Bipartisan chorus demands Lutnick resign

The fallout from the hearing has intensified calls for Lutnick’s resignation from both sides of the aisle. Representative Thomas Massie (R-Ky.), who co-authored the law that compelled the release of the Epstein files, stated that the Secretary should "make life easier on the president, frankly, and just resign".

Democrats, including Senator Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) and Representative Robert Garcia (D-Calif.), have echoed these demands, stating that Lutnick "has no business" being the Commerce Secretary after lying about his ties. Schiff argued that the revelations raise "serious concerns about his judgement and ethics" and demanded full accountability for the "slow walked" release of the information.

White House stands by Secretary

Despite mounting political pressure, the White House has continued to defend Lutnick. Spokesman Kush Desai stated on Monday that the President remains focused on delivering results and described the current Cabinet as the "most transformative" in modern history.

The Commerce Department likewise dismissed the criticism as a "failing attempt by the legacy media to distract" from the administration’s economic record. Still with the House Oversight Committee weighing additional subpoenas, Lutnick remains a central figure in the ongoing investigation into Epstein's network of powerful associates.

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