Howard Lutnick, the U.S. Commerce Secretary under President Donald Trump, has publicly admitted to visiting Jeffrey Epstein’s private island in 2012, a confirmation that directly contradicts his previous statements and has ignited bipartisan demands for his resignation. The revelation emerged during a Senate Appropriations subcommittee hearing on Tuesday, where Lutnick acknowledged the visit while defending his limited interactions with the late convicted sex offender.
During the hearing, Lutnick stated that he, along with his wife, four children, and nannies, had lunch on Epstein’s Caribbean island for about an hour in December 2012. This admission came after emails released by the Justice Department as part of the Epstein files documented the planned visit, showing correspondence between Lutnick’s wife and Epstein’s assistant. Lutnick had earlier told Congress that he severed all ties with Epstein in 2005 after an incident where Epstein made sexual innuendos during a visit to his New York home.
The commerce secretary’s testimony highlighted a significant discrepancy: while he claimed to have cut contact in 2005, the documents reveal at least eight interactions after that date, including the 2012 island visit. Senator Chris Van Hollen, a Democrat from Maryland, sharply criticized Lutnick for misrepresenting the extent of his relationship, emphasizing that the issue is not wrongdoing but a breach of trust with Congress and the public.
Lutnick’s name appeared in the trove of over 3.5 million documents released by the Justice Department, which has implicated numerous high-profile individuals. The files show that Lutnick met Epstein three times over 14 years, with the island visit being one of those encounters. Despite this, Lutnick insisted he had “no relationship” with Epstein and did nothing wrong, describing the interactions as minimal and inconsequential.
The confirmation has spurred calls for Lutnick’s resignation from both sides of the aisle. Democrats, including Senators Adam Schiff and Lisa Murkowski, have been vocal in their criticism, while Republican Representative Thomas Massie, who co-authored the law mandating the release of the Epstein files, also urged Lutnick to step down. They argue that his lack of transparency undermines his credibility and fitness for office.
In response, the White House has firmly backed Lutnick, with press secretary Karoline Leavitt stating that he retains President Trump’s full support. The administration views Lutnick as a key architect of Trump’s trade policies and has dismissed the controversy as a distraction from their economic agenda. This stance has set the stage for a potential political battle as lawmakers continue to scrutinize the Epstein connections.
Beyond Lutnick, the Epstein documents have revealed other names, such as retail billionaire Les Wexner and Sultan Ahmed Bin Sulayem, though their inclusion does not imply wrongdoing. The release has also reignited efforts by survivors’ advocates, who gathered on Capitol Hill to promote Virginia’s Law, legislation aimed at removing statutes of limitations for sexual abuse claims, named after survivor Virginia Giuffre.
As the fallout continues, Lutnick faces ongoing pressure from Congress, with further hearings likely. The episode underscores the lingering shadows of the Epstein scandal and challenges the accountability of public figures linked to it. Whether Lutnick can weather the storm or will succumb to resignation demands remains to be seen, but the controversy has already intensified scrutiny on the administration’s handling of ethical issues.
