Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick donated $5 million to a super PAC supporting House Republicans about a month before lawmakers interviewed him about his interactions with the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, according to a report.
Lutnick made the donation to the Congressional Leadership Fund on April 1, making him the first known member of President Donald Trump’s cabinet to have made a disclosed seven-figure federal donation after Senate confirmation, The New York Times reports.
Lutnick sat for the interview with the House Oversight Committee on May 6. He had agreed to the interview in early March, about a month before the donation. A Commerce Department spokesperson said Lutnick made the donation in his personal capacity, as many cabinet secretaries from both parties have done before.
During the interview, Lutnick was asked about his ties to Epstein, who was once his neighbour. He confirmed that he and his family had lunch on Epstein’s private island in 2012, but said he did not remember why they went or that Epstein was a registered sex offender at the time. Lutnick denied any wrongdoing and said his interactions with Epstein were “meaningless and inconsequential”.
The donation has drawn scrutiny given the timing, but Lutnick’s spokesperson said it was a routine political contribution. The Independent has requested comment from the Congressional Leadership Fund and the House Oversight Committee.
