Commerce Secretary Confirms Visit to Epstein's Island
US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick has acknowledged that he visited Jeffrey Epstein's island in 2012, contradicting his earlier statements that he had severed ties with the convicted sex offender years before Epstein's conviction.
During testimony on Capitol Hill on Tuesday, Lutnick stated,
"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 … We had lunch on the island. That is true. For an hour."
Documents from the US Department of Justice, which include correspondence about the visit, confirm Lutnick's presence on Epstein's Caribbean island.
Political Reactions and White House Support
Following the revelation, some lawmakers have called for Lutnick's resignation. However, the White House affirmed on Tuesday that President Donald Trump continues to support the commerce secretary.
Previously, Lutnick had informed Congress that he ended his association with Epstein in 2005 after Epstein, a New York neighbor, used sexual innuendo to justify owning a massage table in a room of his home.
In his testimony, Lutnick added,
"Over the next 14 years, I met him two other times that I can recall."
Details from Justice Department Files
Justice Department records indicate Lutnick visited Epstein's island on December 23, 2012, four years after Epstein's conviction for soliciting prostitution from a minor.
This testimony marked the first public confirmation by Lutnick of the visit. He remarked,
"I don't recall why we did it, but we did it."
There have been no allegations of wrongdoing against Lutnick in connection with Epstein.
Lutnick also mentioned another encounter approximately a year and a half later, describing an hour-long meeting with Epstein.
He noted that among the millions of pages of Epstein-related documents released by the justice department, about 10 emails link him to Epstein.
He emphasized,
"Over a 14-year period, I did not have any relationship with him, I barely had anything to do with that person."
Senate Scrutiny and Bipartisan Calls for Resignation
Senator Chris Van Hollen, a Democrat from Maryland, questioned Lutnick about the discrepancies in his accounts.
Van Hollen stated,
"The issue is not that you engaged in any wrongdoing in connection with Jeffrey Epstein, but that you totally misrepresented the extent of your relationship with him, to the congress, to the American people and to the survivors of his despicable criminal and predatory acts."
Lutnick is among several prominent individuals named in over 3.5 million documents released by the justice department, as required by law.
The disclosure that Lutnick visited Epstein's island years after claiming to have ended contact has prompted bipartisan demands for his resignation from the Trump administration.
Democratic Congressman Ro Khanna and Republican Congressman Thomas Massie, co-sponsors of the legislation mandating the justice department's release of Epstein files last year, have both called for Lutnick to step down.
Khanna and Massie continue to advocate for additional transparency. After reviewing unredacted files, Khanna revealed six other names on Tuesday that he asserts were improperly redacted. Massie commented that these individuals are
"likely incriminated by their inclusion in these files."
The BBC is reaching out to those named for comment.
Survivors Advocate for Virginia's Law
While Lutnick testified on one side of Capitol Hill, survivors of Epstein's abuse gathered on the other side to promote Virginia's Law, legislation designed to eliminate the statute of limitations for survivors of sexual abuse to file civil claims.
The legislation is named after Virginia Giuffre, one of the most prominent survivors of Epstein's sexual abuse, who died by suicide in 2025.
Giuffre's sister-in-law, Amanda Roberts, expressed that Giuffre's wish was to remove the time limits on such claims.
Roberts stated,
"No more laws that treat survivors as though time can erase harm,"before adding,
"Pass Virginia's Law."
