US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick testified before the House Oversight Committee regarding his past interactions with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Lutnick detailed three encounters, including a 2005 visit to Epstein’s New York home that he described as off-putting
, and a 2012 trip to Epstein’s Caribbean island during a family vacation.
Lutnick, who is considered the architect of the Trump administration’s global tariffs policy, provided testimony as part of a congressional probe into the late financier. His voluntary appearance before the House Oversight Committee on May 6 focused on his relationship with Epstein, who was a neighbor of Lutnick in New York.
Details of the 2005 New York encounter
A central component of Lutnick’s testimony involved a specific meeting in 2005 at Epstein’s New York residence. Lutnick stated that he and his wife were invited to the home for coffee. During a tour of the property, the couple was shown a room containing a massage table surrounded by candles.
According to the transcriptions released by the congressional panel, Lutnick questioned Epstein regarding the frequency of his massages.
Every day and the right kind of massage.
Jeffrey Epstein
Lutnick testified that he found the comment off-putting
. Following the remark, he and his wife excused themselves and left the home. Lutnick told the committee that he decided at that moment to cut all ties with Epstein.
Caribbean travel and relationship timeline
While Lutnick characterized his three total interactions with the financier as meaningless and inconsequential
, his testimony addressed a visit to Epstein’s private island in the Caribbean. Lutnick confirmed that this trip took place in 2012 while he was on a family vacation.
The Secretary’s testimony sought to clarify the timeline of his contact with Epstein, maintaining that the 2005 incident in New York served as the catalyst for ending their acquaintance. Lutnick has previously confirmed the 2012 Caribbean visit earlier this year, but the recent testimony provided further context regarding the nature of his interactions with the convicted offender.
Congressional investigation and related testimony
The House Oversight Committee’s investigation into Epstein has included testimony from other high-profile figures. Among them was Ted Waitt, the billionaire co-founder of Gateway computers, who also provided statements to the panel.
Waitt testified regarding his multi-year relationship with Ghislaine Maxwell, Epstein’s convicted co-conspirator. During his testimony, Waitt noted concerns regarding Maxwell’s professional involvement and work on his behalf.
As the investigation continues, the committee has released interview transcriptions to provide transparency into the connections between various individuals and the Epstein network. Current records indicate that neither Lutnick nor Waitt have been accused of any wrongdoing by the victims of Epstein.
