Republican Representative Nancy Mace has criticised US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick for having lunch with convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein on his private island in 2012. Speaking to NewsNation, Mace said she would not personally have lunch with a convicted paedophile, though she stopped short of calling for Lutnick's resignation.
Lutnick admitted to the lunch during Senate testimony on Tuesday, telling the Senate Appropriations Committee: 'We had lunch on the island, that is true, for an hour.' The admission has prompted calls for his resignation from lawmakers on both sides of the aisle.
Mace said she was glad Lutnick had told the truth under oath but questioned his decision to meet Epstein after his 2008 conviction for procuring a child for prostitution. 'As a mom, I wouldn’t sit and have lunch with a convicted pedophile,' she said.
When asked if Lutnick should resign, Mace said: 'I wouldn’t go that far. I’ve not seen any evidence that he did anything wrong.' However, she added: 'I do question people who weren’t straightforward, who weren’t honest right away with the American public.'
Mace also commented on newly released documents containing names of people who associated with Epstein. 'I saw some names in there of people that I had no idea would be in the files,' she said. She emphasised that her priority is justice for victims, not targeting Lutnick or President Trump.
The White House has confirmed that President Trump 'fully supports' Lutnick, with press secretary Karoline Leavitt describing him as 'a very important member' of the administration.
