In a stunning reversal that has rocked Washington, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick—once adamant he severed ties with Jeffrey Epstein in 2005—admitted under Senate questioning that he and his family actually visited the disgraced financier’s private island for lunch in 2012, years after Epstein’s conviction for soliciting prostitution from a minor.
The bombshell emerged from the latest Justice Department release of Epstein files, which include emails showing Lutnick’s wife coordinating the visit and plans for the family to join Epstein. Lutnick testified he spent just “an hour” on Little St. James during a boat vacation with his wife, children, and nannies, insisting it was innocent and he had “no personal relationship” with Epstein—despite earlier claims he’d never be in the same room with the “disgusting” man again after a disturbing 2005 encounter.
Now, Rep. Ted Lieu (D-Calif.) is leading the charge, demanding Lutnick resign in disgrace: “The Epstein files show not only did Howard Lutnick lie to the American people, he went into business with Jeffrey Epstein. He visited Epstein Island… knowing how evil Epstein was.” Bipartisan pressure mounts, with calls growing louder amid questions of judgment and transparency in Trump’s cabinet. Will Lutnick step down, or will this scandal explode further?
In a stunning reversal that has rocked Washington, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick—once adamant he severed ties with Jeffrey Epstein in 2005—admitted under Senate questioning that he and his family actually visited the disgraced financier’s private island for lunch in 2012, years after Epstein’s conviction for soliciting prostitution from a minor.
The bombshell emerged from the latest Justice Department release of Epstein files under the Epstein Files Transparency Act. These documents, part of millions of pages gradually unsealed, include emails showing Lutnick’s wife, Allison, coordinating the December 2012 visit to Little St. James. Correspondence from her to Epstein’s assistant expressed anticipation for the lunch and plans for the family to join him.
Lutnick testified before a Senate Appropriations subcommittee on Tuesday, February 10, 2026, that the stop lasted just “an hour” during a family boat vacation. He was accompanied by his wife, their four children, nannies, and another couple with kids. Insisting the encounter was innocent and incidental, Lutnick maintained he had “no personal relationship” with Epstein and “barely had anything to do with that person.” This directly contradicted his prior public statements, including a podcast claim last year that he vowed never to be in the same room with the “disgusting” Epstein again after a disturbing 2005 encounter at Epstein’s New York home, where sexual innuendo and a massage table raised red flags.
The files also reveal ongoing interactions, including business dealings as late as 2014 and other meetings post-2008 conviction. Lutnick downplayed these as limited—emails and a handful of encounters over years—while facing intense grilling from Democrats like Sen. Chris Van Hollen.
Now, Rep. Ted Lieu (D-Calif.), Vice Chair of the House Democratic Caucus, is leading the charge, demanding Lutnick resign in disgrace: “The Epstein files show not only did Howard Lutnick lie to the American people, he went into business with Jeffrey Epstein. He visited Epstein Island… knowing how evil Epstein was.” Bipartisan pressure has mounted, with calls from Democrats including Reps. Robert Garcia, Ro Khanna, and Sen. Jacky Rosen, as well as Republican Rep. Thomas Massie, who urged Lutnick to step down to ease burdens on the president. Critics question Lutnick’s judgment, transparency, and fitness for a high cabinet role amid the Trump administration.
The White House has stood by Lutnick, with Speaker Mike Johnson dismissing resignation calls as “absurd” and praising his work. Lutnick insists he has “nothing to hide” and portrayed the island visit as a brief detour from family travel.
This scandal adds fuel to the Epstein files’ fallout, which continue exposing elite connections long after Epstein’s 2019 death. Whether Lutnick steps down or the controversy explodes further remains uncertain, but it underscores persistent scrutiny over associations with one of America’s most notorious figures.
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