WASHINGTON — On Tuesday, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick acknowledged that he visited Jeffrey Epstein’s private island, contradicting his earlier claim that they had ceased communications in 2005. This revelation followed the release of FBI documents.
According to records from the FBI dated January 30, Lutnick, who is 64, admitted to senators that he had two interactions with Epstein post-2005. These included a visit to the so-called “pedophile island” in 2012 and a social gathering in 2011 involving alcohol.
Lutnick described the island visit as a brief, innocent family outing. “We did have lunch on the island, certainly for an hour,” he explained to a Senate subcommittee. “It was a family trip, and we all left together… I can’t quite recall why we went, but we left.” This admission comes about seven years after Lutnick had asserted he had cut ties with his infamous neighbor. Epstein had pleaded guilty in 2008 to soliciting prostitution from a minor in Florida and faced federal charges in 2019.
In an October interview, Lutnick said he and his wife found Epstein’s townhouse so unsettling in 2005 that they vowed never to spend time with him again. He described Epstein as “the greatest extortionist of all time” due to his wealth.
Despite these revelations and his fragmented memory, Lutnick maintained that he had “nothing to hide, absolutely nothing.” He has played an important role in trade negotiations during President Trump’s second term. Besides his visit to the island, Lutnick also participated in a meeting with Epstein in May 2011, a detail confirmed by emails released under the Congressional Transparency Act.
Lutnick remarked, “I met Jeffrey Epstein when I moved next to him in New York. Over the years, we met a couple of times, but it had been six years since our last meeting.” He added, “There are probably about ten emails linking me to him in 14 years.” He insisted he had very little connection to Epstein: “I had nothing to do with him, okay?”
Calls for Lutnick’s resignation have come from several members of Congress, including Reps. Thomas Massie and Robert Garcia, due to his ties to Epstein.
“It’s really cracking our story.”
White House press secretary Caroline Levitt criticized reporters for focusing on the Epstein controversy, claiming it distracts from important public issues like national rent rates and border security. She stated, “Secretary Lutnick continues to be a vital member of President Trump’s team.” She emphasized that Lutnick has the President’s full support.
The ongoing FBI document releases have revealed shocking details, as Congress reviews unredacted files. A former police chief in Palm Beach, who said he severed ties with Epstein long ago, recounted that Trump had urged him to investigate Ghislaine Maxwell in 2006. Levitt remarked on the dissonance of the report, suggesting it counters narratives against Trump.
Trump has dismissed the scrutiny surrounding Epstein as politically motivated, while Republicans have highlighted President Bill Clinton’s associations with Epstein. The failure to prosecute many influential individuals linked to Epstein has sparked bipartisan outrage.
Multiple associates of Epstein are outlined in the documents, which detail ongoing investigations revealing potential incriminations. Names include Walmart billionaire Les Wexner and businessman Sultan Ahmed bin Saleem, among others.
Massey mentioned that the FBI is aware of numerous powerful individuals allegedly involved in predatory behavior, noting only one by name—Jess Staley—who resigned from his position at Barclays Bank. The allegations have negatively impacted several high-profile figures, including Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, who faced significant backlash regarding Epstein-related claims.
Additionally, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer is reconsidering his decision to appoint Peter Mandelson as ambassador to the U.S. due to Mandelson’s ties with Epstein.
