On February 10, 2026, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick admitted under oath to the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee that he visited Jeffrey Epstein's private island in December 2012 for lunch, directly contradicting his previous claims. Lutnick testified, “I did have lunch with him, as I was on a boat going across on a family vacation,” and confirmed the visit lasted about an hour with his wife, four children, and nannies present.
The problem: Lutnick had previously told Congress and the public that he cut off all contact with Epstein after a 2005 encounter at Epstein's home. In a 2025 interview, he said he vowed he would “never be in the room with that disgusting person ever again” after that 2005 meeting. The 2012 island visit proves that was a lie. Even worse, DOJ-released documents show Lutnick remained in contact with Epstein as recently as 2018—a full decade after Epstein's 2008 conviction for soliciting prostitution involving a minor.
Senator Chris Van Hollen directly confronted Lutnick: “You misled the country and the Congress based on your earlier statements suggesting that you cut off all contact, when, in fact, you had not.” Lutnick now faces bipartisan calls to resign, but the White House says Trump stands behind his Commerce Secretary. This is the same administration that claimed releasing the Epstein files would expose the truth—yet when their own cabinet member is implicated, they circle the wagons.