Newly released emails reveal that US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick arranged a visit to Jeffrey Epstein’s private island in 2012, according to documents included in the latest Epstein files published by the US Department of Justice. This contradicts Lutnick’s earlier assertions that he had cut all contact with Epstein after a disturbing encounter in 2005, raising questions about the accuracy of his past statements.
The emails, part of a massive release of over three million pages on Friday, detail that in December 2012, Lutnick and his wife Allison coordinated with Epstein’s assistant for a family trip to Little Saint James, the Caribbean island Epstein purchased in 1998. Lutnick’s email to “Jeff” proposed a dinner meeting, while his wife’s message expressed excitement about joining for lunch with their children and another family, indicating planned social interactions.
These communications emerged from the Justice Department’s ongoing disclosure of Epstein-related materials, mandated by law to provide transparency into the financier’s network. The release includes numerous documents shedding light on Epstein’s associates, with Lutnick being among the high-profile figures mentioned, though the emails do not indicate any criminal activity by the commerce secretary.
Previously, Lutnick had told the New York Post that in 2005, after Epstein showed him a massage room in his Manhattan home and made suggestive comments, he and his wife decided to never associate with Epstein again. This narrative is now challenged by the 2012 emails, which suggest continued communication and planned engagements, highlighting inconsistencies in his account.
In response to the revelations, a Commerce Department spokesperson stated that Secretary Lutnick had limited interactions with Epstein in the presence of his wife and has never been accused of wrongdoing. Lutnick himself, when contacted by the New York Times, declined to comment on the island visit, citing that he had not reviewed the new documents, adding to the ambiguity.
The files also contain references to other interactions, such as an invitation from Lutnick to Epstein for a Hillary Clinton fundraiser in 2015, though it is unclear if Epstein attended. These details contribute to the complex web of connections between Epstein and various influential individuals, which continues to be scrutinized following Epstein’s death in 2019 while facing sex trafficking charges.
The release of these documents has sparked renewed public and media interest in Epstein’s associates, with potential implications for the reputations of those linked to him. As more files become public, further disclosures may emerge, ensuring that the Epstein case remains a focal point for ongoing investigations and discussions about accountability and transparency in high-profile circles.
