Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick Admits Meetings with Epstein Post-Conviction

Wed Feb 11 2026 01:03:31 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

Amid bipartisan calls for resignation, Secretary Lutnick acknowledges meetings with Jeffrey Epstein after previously denying contact post-2005.

During a recent Senate Appropriations Committee hearing, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick admitted to meeting with Jeffrey Epstein twice after his 2008 conviction for soliciting prostitution from a child. This contradicts previous statements made by Lutnick, who downplayed their connection. Several lawmakers have since called for his resignation, raising concerns about accountability for those who maintain ties with Epstein, amidst ongoing legislative efforts to shed light on the Epstein files.

WASHINGTON (AP) — Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick faced intense questioning from Democrats after admitting to having met with Jeffrey Epstein twice following the financier's 2008 conviction for soliciting prostitution from a minor. This acknowledgment comes contrary to Lutnick's previous claims that he had severed ties with Epstein after 2005.

During the Senate Appropriations Committee hearing, Lutnick downplayed his association with Epstein, referring to the interactions as merely a few emails and two distant meetings. I did not have any relationship with him. I barely had anything to do with him, he asserted to lawmakers.

Despite his claims, bipartisan calls for Lutnick's resignation are mounting, especially following the release of arrest files that contradict his earlier statements made on a podcast where he professed to avoid Epstein entirely after a disturbing 2005 visit to the financier's home.

In Tuesday's session, Lutnick admitted to sharing a lunch with Epstein on his private island in 2012 and having a meeting at Epstein’s residence in 2011. As a high-ranking member of President Donald Trump’s Cabinet, Lutnick is now under scrutiny as lawmakers on both sides demand accountability, especially in light of the latest details emerging from the Epstein files.

In countries like the UK, such ties have prompted resignations and significant repercussions, yet U.S. officials have received comparatively little backlash so far. Democrat Senator Chris Van Hollen noted Lutnick's statements as misleading but emphasized that they do not imply any direct wrongdoing on his part.

Reactions from both parties have been swift, with Republican Rep. Thomas Massie advocating for Lutnick's resignation over the weekend after new emails suggested engagements with Epstein. Democrat Rep. Ro Khanna echoed this sentiment, stressing the importance of upholding standards of accountability for those in power.

Khanna voiced the bigger issue at stake, asking, Are we going to allow the rich and powerful people who are friends with pedophiles to skate by without consequences? The discourse continues as lawmakers navigate the implications of the Epstein files, seeking clarity and repercussions in a complex network of powerful individuals.