Mr. Lutnick is one of several influential business and political leaders whose ties to Mr. Epstein were revealed by the release of Justice Department documents related to the Epstein investigation.
The Epstein File, Accountability, and What Lawmakers Can Do
There are several steps lawmakers can take to act on the Epstein files. USA TODAY’s Aisha Bagchi explains.
WASHINGTON – Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick told a Senate committee that he has nothing to hide about his meetings with sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein, but senators said previous evasive explanations have hurt his credibility.
Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) said Lutnick previously told Congress that he cut ties with his New York townhouse neighbor in 2005 after Epstein used sexual innuendos to describe the massage table in his room.
But documents released by the Justice Department show about a dozen emails mentioning Lutnick, including a reference to a lunch on Epstein’s private island in the Caribbean where minors have accused him of abusing them.
“Mr. Secretary, that calls into question your fitness for your current job and your credibility on this committee and in Congress,” Van Hollen said.
According to the new files, Lutnick met with Epstein on the island on December 23, 2012. But Lutnick said his wife, four children and their nanny were also in attendance. He said he could not remember why they were on Little St. James Island but saw no inappropriate behavior.
“I have nothing to hide,” Lutnick said.
Lutnick said a year and a half later, he had an hour-long meeting with Epstein at 5 p.m., but that was it. He said the emails mentioning him were insignificant among the millions of documents released.
“I had nothing to do with him,” said Lutnick, who has not been accused of any wrongdoing related to Epstein. “I had little to do with that person.”
The documents mentioning Lutnick are among 3.5 million documents released by the Justice Department under recent legislation. But the department is withholding an additional 2.5 million documents, which some lawmakers and those who have accused Epstein of abuse say could cover up accomplices.
Mr. Lutnick is one of several influential business and political leaders featured in the record, including President Donald Trump, former President Bill Clinton, and Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor.
