US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick has publicly acknowledged having lunch with the convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein on his private Caribbean island, during a high-stakes Senate appropriations subcommittee hearing in Washington DC on Tuesday. The admission comes as Lutnick faces mounting pressure from lawmakers across the political spectrum to resign from his cabinet position.
Lunch Admission During Family Vacation
Under questioning from senators, Lutnick confirmed the 2012 encounter occurred during what he described as a family vacation. "I did have lunch with him, as I was on a boat going across on a family vacation" in that year, the commerce secretary testified. He emphasised the presence of his immediate family during the visit, stating "My wife was with me, as were my four children and nannies" alongside another couple and their children.
The lunch reportedly lasted approximately one hour on Epstein's private island, a location that has become infamous following the financier's criminal convictions. Epstein had previously pleaded guilty to Florida state charges in 2008 for soliciting a minor for prostitution, benefiting from a controversial plea agreement that allowed him to avoid federal prosecution at that time.
Bipartisan Demands for Resignation
The revelation has triggered immediate political consequences, with Republican Congressman Thomas Massie leading calls for Lutnick's resignation over the weekend. During a television appearance, Massie argued "Really, he should make life easier on the president, frankly, and just resign", drawing parallels with how Epstein-related scandals have impacted British political figures.
Democratic lawmakers have joined the chorus of criticism, with California Representative Robert Garcia demanding "Lutnick must resign or be fired" in a social media statement. Other prominent Democrats including Representatives Ro Khanna, Ted Lieu, Melanie Stansbury, and Senator Adam Schiff have similarly called for the commerce secretary to step down from his position.
Contradictions in Previous Statements
During his testimony, Lutnick sought to minimise his association with Epstein, claiming he "barely had anything to do" with the disgraced financier. The commerce secretary testified that he initially met Epstein when they became neighbours in New York, but insisted he only encountered him twice more over the following fourteen years.
This latest admission appears to contradict Lutnick's previous assertions that he had distanced himself from Epstein by 2005. The 2012 island visit occurred four years after Epstein's conviction and thirteen-month jail sentence for procuring a minor for prostitution, raising further questions about the nature of their association.
Political Fallout and Continuing Scrutiny
The controversy represents another chapter in the ongoing political ramifications of the Epstein scandal, which has previously ensnared figures including Britain's Prince Andrew and former ambassador Peter Mandelson. As a Wall Street billionaire and longstanding ally of former President Donald Trump, Lutnick's position appears increasingly precarious amid the bipartisan demands for accountability.
Lawmakers continue to press for further answers regarding the commerce secretary's connections to Epstein, with Representative Garcia emphasising the need for Lutnick to "answer our questions" about the relationship. The testimony before the Senate appropriations committee marks a significant development in what promises to be an ongoing political examination of these controversial associations.
