Commerce Secretary Acknowledges 2012 Trip to Epstein's Private Island During Senate Testimony
U.S. Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick faced intense questioning before a Senate panel on Tuesday, where he admitted to visiting Jeffrey Epstein's private island in 2012. This revelation came despite Lutnick's previous statements that his relationship with the disgraced financier had ended years earlier, creating significant scrutiny around the timeline of their association.
Lutnick's Description of the Island Visit
During his appearance before the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies, Lutnick described the circumstances surrounding his trip to Epstein's island. "I did have lunch with him, as I was on a boat going across on a family vacation, my wife was with me, as were my four children and nannies," Lutnick testified. He emphasized that during this visit, "The only thing I saw with my wife and my children and the other couple and their children was staff who worked for Mr. Epstein on that island."
The Commerce Secretary made these admissions after being confronted with Justice Department documents that indicated he had planned the visit. This disclosure occurred in the Dirksen Senate Office Building on Capitol Hill, where Lutnick appeared to discuss appropriations matters but found himself addressing questions about his past connections.
Questioning Extends to Nanny's Resume and 2013 Contact
Senators pressed Lutnick further about additional interactions with Epstein that extended beyond the 2012 island visit. Specifically, lawmakers questioned him about Epstein seeking a copy of his nanny's resume and attempting to arrange a meeting with her in 2013—a full year after the island trip. When asked whether this particular nanny had accompanied the family to Epstein's island, Lutnick responded that he had "no idea about that whole thing."
Justice Department documents released in recent weeks reveal that Epstein's longtime accountant forwarded a resume for one of Lutnick's nannies to Epstein and indicated efforts to schedule a meeting between them. These records contradict Lutnick's previous characterizations of his relationship with Epstein, suggesting more extensive contact than initially disclosed.
Contradictions in Lutnick's Previous Statements
The Senate hearing highlighted significant inconsistencies between Lutnick's current testimony and his past accounts of his relationship with Epstein. In an interview on the Pod Force One podcast last year, Lutnick described moving next door to Epstein in 2005 and becoming so troubled by him that he and his wife agreed to never be in a room with him again. "So I was never in the room with him, socially for business or even philanthropy," he stated during that interview.
However, Justice Department documents indicate that Lutnick and Epstein—who were neighbors in Manhattan—continued exchanging messages through 2018. Despite this evidence, Lutnick maintained to the Senate panel, "I did not have any relationship with him."
Senator Expresses Doubts About Lutnick's Account
Democratic Senator Jeff Merkley of Oregon expressed skepticism about Lutnick's version of events during the hearing. "The reason people are bothered is because last year, you said you cut off all contact, but there are eight incidences of interaction since then," Merkley stated. He continued, "In 2012 you were planning a trip to the private island with your family. That sounds like somebody you know well enough to call up and say, 'Let's get our families together.'"
Merkley's questioning underscored the central contradiction in Lutnick's testimony: how someone who claimed to have severed all ties with Epstein could be planning family vacations to his private island years after Epstein's 2008 guilty plea to Florida state prostitution charges, which included soliciting a minor for prostitution.
Additional Context and Political Fallout
During his testimony, Lutnick clarified that Ghislaine Maxwell—Epstein's former girlfriend who is currently serving a 20-year prison sentence for recruiting and grooming women for Epstein to sexually abuse—was not present during his island visit. This detail emerged as lawmakers sought to understand the full scope of Lutnick's interactions within Epstein's circle.
The revelations have prompted some lawmakers to call for Lutnick's resignation over his Epstein connections, though the White House rejected these claims on Monday. The controversy continues to unfold as more documents become public and lawmakers demand greater transparency about relationships between government officials and convicted sex offenders.
The Senate hearing represents a significant moment of accountability for high-ranking officials, as questions about personal associations intersect with public trust in government leadership. Lutnick's testimony highlights the challenges public figures face when past relationships with controversial individuals come under scrutiny years later.
