Commerce Secretary’s Controversial Comments on Jeffrey Epstein
In a striking departure from the Justice Department’s stance, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick described Jeffrey Epstein as “the greatest threatening man of all time.”
Lutnick made this surprising statement during a discussion with Miranda Devine on the recent episode of “Pod Force One.”
The 64-year-old Cabinet Secretary recounted his experience after moving next to Epstein in 2005, saying that Epstein showcased his notorious “massage room” and gave him a tour of the East 71st Street Townhouse.
He remembered asking Epstein, “A massage table in the middle of your house? How often do you massage?” to which Epstein responded, “every day” and added, somewhat oddly, “and the right kind of massage.”
Following that encounter, Lutnick and his wife quickly found excuses to leave Epstein’s home.
When Devine questioned why Epstein’s wealthy friends, including figures like Prince Andrew and Bill Gates, didn’t seem to notice anything unusual—or did and chose to ignore it—Lutnick simply stated, “They joined.”
“They’re getting massages, that’s his MO. ‘I’m going to get massages, I’m going to get a massage,’ and I think what happened in that massage room was on video,” Lutnick elaborated. “This guy was the greatest threatening man ever and he blackmailed people. That’s how he had money.”
A representative for Bill Gates categorically denied Lutnick’s claims, stating, “This is absolutely wrong. Gates met with Epstein and discussed charity and other matters.”
Lutnick contended that when Epstein exchanged videos for a lighter sentence of 18 months, it meant he could come and go from prison, highlighting his status as a “serial sex criminal.”
“So my assumption, I have no knowledge, but my assumption is that there was a video deal because there were people in those videos,” Lutnick explained.
Meanwhile, a June 6 memo from the DOJ and the FBI asserted that they had found no evidence of a “client list” among Epstein’s rich and powerful peers.
The memo also indicated there was “no credible evidence” suggesting that Epstein blackmailed any prominent individuals, despite the fact that his actions affected over 1,000 victims.
Epstein, who passed away on August 10, 2019, was awaiting federal trial on sex trafficking charges at the time of his death. He was required to register as a sex offender in 2008 after pleading guilty to soliciting minors and prostitution.
According to a 2020 DOJ report, despite Epstein having spent significant amounts on massages at his Florida home, no one ever contacted law enforcement regarding any video evidence of these encounters.
The South Florida U.S. Attorneys’ office, led by Alex Acosta, had previously reached an agreement with Epstein that deemed many charges unnecessary due to evidence issues—an arrangement that Acosta later expressed remorse over.
“The Palm Beach State lawyers first proposed this resolution, which did not entail prison time or sex offender registration, but Acosta and his team didn’t accept it,” noted attorney Jeffrey Neiman, who recently testified before a House panel.
Lutnick called Epstein “Gross,” recalling his impression after their initial meeting. He noted that he was offered a tour of the penthouse next to his on the Upper East Side.
President Trump, who had a close relationship with Epstein in the 1990s, distanced himself from Epstein around 2007, stating he severed ties after learning about Epstein’s inappropriate actions related to recruiting staff from his Mar-a-Lago resort.
In a related note, a photo allegedly taken by Epstein shows him with Gates in Gates’ Seattle office in March 2014, after they first met at a dinner in January 2011.
