Commerce Secretary Lutnick to Face House Oversight Interview on Epstein Ties

Lutnick initially claimed to have cut off contact with Epstein in 2005, but later admitted to a 2012 meeting on Epstein's private island.

Apr. 6, 2026 at 9:22pm

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A dimly lit office desk with a nameplate that reads 'Howard Lutnick' sitting in a pool of warm, diagonal light, the rest of the room shrouded in deep shadows, conveying a sense of solitude and introspection.The Commerce Secretary's private office casts an air of quiet contemplation as he prepares to face questions about his ties to the notorious Jeffrey Epstein.NYC Today

Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick is scheduled to appear before the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform on May 6 for a voluntary transcribed interview about his connections to notorious sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Lutnick had previously claimed to have cut off contact with Epstein in 2005, but later admitted to having lunch with him and his family on Epstein's private Caribbean island in 2012, more than four years after Epstein's conviction for soliciting an underage girl for prostitution.

Why it matters

The House Oversight Committee is investigating Epstein's crimes and the connections between powerful individuals and the disgraced financier. Lutnick's shifting accounts of his relationship with Epstein raise questions about the extent of their interactions and whether the Commerce Secretary properly severed ties with Epstein after his 2008 conviction.

The details

Lutnick initially told the Senate Appropriations Committee on February 10 that he had cut off contact with Epstein in 2005. However, Department of Justice files show Lutnick remained in contact with Epstein for years afterward. Lutnick later admitted in his Senate testimony that he and his family had lunch with Epstein in December 2012 on Epstein's private Caribbean island, along with their nannies.

  • Lutnick is scheduled to appear before the House Oversight Committee on May 6, 2026.
  • Epstein pleaded guilty in Florida state court to soliciting an underage girl for prostitution in 2008, for which he served 13 months in jail.
  • Lutnick claimed to have cut off contact with Epstein in 2005.
  • Lutnick and his family had lunch with Epstein on the latter's private Caribbean island in December 2012.

The players

Howard Lutnick

The current U.S. Secretary of Commerce, who has faced scrutiny over his connections to Jeffrey Epstein.

Jeffrey Epstein

A notorious sex offender convicted of soliciting an underage girl for prostitution in 2008.

James Comer

The Republican Representative from Kentucky who chairs the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.

Bill Clinton

The former President of the United States, who testified before the Oversight Committee about his interactions with Epstein.

Pam Bondi

The former Attorney General of Florida, who was subpoenaed by the Oversight Committee to provide a deposition on Epstein.

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What they’re saying

“It's a voluntary transcribed interview.”

— Anonymous person familiar with the situation

“I saw nothing and I did nothing wrong.”

— Bill Clinton, Former President of the United States

“I had no idea of the crimes Epstein was committing.”

— Bill Clinton, Former President of the United States

What’s next

The House Oversight Committee has also subpoenaed former Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi to provide a deposition on Epstein on April 14, 2026.

The takeaway

The upcoming interview with Commerce Secretary Lutnick is part of the House Oversight Committee's broader investigation into the connections between powerful individuals and Jeffrey Epstein's criminal activities. Lutnick's shifting accounts of his relationship with Epstein raise concerns about the extent of their interactions and whether Lutnick properly severed ties after Epstein's 2008 conviction.