Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick is set to testify before the House Oversight Committee on Wednesday regarding his past interactions with the late financier Jeffrey Epstein, a convicted sex offender who died in jail in 2019 while awaiting trial on federal sex trafficking charges.
Background of the Case
Lutnick, the former chairman of financial services firm Cantor Fitzgerald, has denied any wrongdoing in relation to Epstein. However, the release of Epstein-related documents by the Department of Justice in late December and January revealed that the two men had remained in contact until at least 2018. Inclusion in these files does not imply guilt.
Lutnick's Previous Statements
In an interview with Pod Force One presenter Miranda Devine in October last year, Lutnick stated that he had been a neighbor of Epstein's in New York and once visited his Upper East Side brownstone in 2005. He claimed to have been appalled when Epstein made a creepy comment about receiving "the right kind of massages" during a tour of the property. Lutnick said, "In the six to eight steps it takes to get from his house to my house, my wife and I decided that I will never be in the room with that disgusting person ever again."
However, Lutnick later admitted to the Senate Appropriations Committee on February 10 that he and his family had lunch with Epstein on his private Caribbean island, Little St James, in December 2012. This occurred more than four years after Epstein pleaded guilty to soliciting an underage girl for prostitution in Florida state court, for which he served 13 months in jail. Lutnick described the lunch as a family vacation and denied any untoward behavior.
Political Reactions
Lutnick's admission drew criticism from Republican representatives Thomas Massie and Nancy Mace. Massie urged him to resign, while Mace commented, "I wouldn't sit and have lunch with a convicted pedophile." His name was also included in a spoof "Walk of Shame" installation in Washington, D.C., in March, featuring pavement stars for individuals embarrassed by their past ties to Epstein.
Ongoing Investigation
The House Oversight Committee has been conducting a wide-ranging investigation into Epstein and his connections to wealthy powerbrokers. The committee has already heard from Bill and Hillary Clinton, both of whom denied any knowledge of Epstein's crimes, as well as two former Epstein employees. Former Attorney General Pam Bondi has agreed to testify later this month, after her initial appearance on April 14 was cancelled following her ouster by President Donald Trump. Tech billionaire Bill Gates is also scheduled to appear in June.
