WASHINGTON – US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick on Tuesday acknowledged having lunch on Jeffrey Epstein’s private island in 2012, as newly released records intensified scrutiny of his ties to the convicted sex offender and renewed calls for his resignation.
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Speaking to the Senate Appropriations Committee, Lutnick confirmed the lunch took place on Little Saint James, the notorious “Epstein Island,” but said he was accompanied by his wife, children, and nannies, and that he witnessed no improper activity. “We were on family vacation… I did not have any relationship with him. I barely had anything to do with that person,” he told lawmakers.
Trump’s secretary of commerce, Howard Lutnick, said recently in an interview that a 2005 visit to Jeffrey Epstein’s home left him so revolted that he cut ties with Epstein.
Emails released today tell a different story, showing Lutnick remained in contact for years afterward,… pic.twitter.com/TryAhDcT1h
— Republicans against Trump (@RpsAgainstTrump) January 30, 2026
New Epstein files reveal that U.S. Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick personally made plans to visit Jeffrey Epstein on a private island, with his children, according to the email.
The email reads, “I have another couple with me on my boat, and each of us has 4 children.”… pic.twitter.com/tk5s2n3xpK
— Shadow of Ezra (@ShadowofEzra) January 30, 2026
The disclosure comes amid newly released emails and documents suggesting that Lutnick and Epstein had planned interactions and later invested in a firm together, although it remains unclear whether they engaged directly over the deal. Lutnick denied having dinner at Epstein’s New York residence in 2011 and downplayed other documents showing Epstein’s interest in meeting his nanny.
Lutnick previously told a podcast in 2025 that he had moved next door to Epstein in 2005 and severed all ties after a disturbing house tour. Yet, these records appear to contradict his earlier claims, raising questions about his judgment and ethics.
Lawmakers from both parties have criticized Lutnick. Democratic Senator Adam Schiff said he “has no business being our Commerce Secretary and should resign immediately,” while Republican Congressman Thomas Massie echoed calls for resignation. House Oversight Committee top Democrat Robert Garcia accused Lutnick of “lying about his relationship with Epstein.”
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Despite the controversy, the White House has backed Lutnick. Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said President Donald Trump “fully supports” him, describing Lutnick as “a very important member” of the administration. Lutnick, a billionaire and former CEO of Cantor Fitzgerald, has maintained that his interactions with Epstein were minimal and unrelated to business or philanthropy.