The shadow of Jeffrey Epstein has returned to haunt a top Trump official, as U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick prepares to testify before a House committee probing the late financier’s web of powerful associates.
Republican James Comer, chair of the Oversight Committee, announced that Lutnick has “proactively agreed to appear voluntarily” for a transcribed interview, signalling his readiness to address lingering questions.
Lutnick played a pivotal role in crafting Trump’s global tariff regime, imposing steep duties on imports from China and Europe that escalated trade frictions to billions. He long maintained that he cut ties with Epstein in 2005 after the New York neighbour offered lewd explanations for a massage table in his home.
But newly unsealed Justice Department files—spanning over 3.5 million pages—reveal a different story. On 23 December 2012, Lutnick visited Epstein’s infamous Little Saint James island during a family Caribbean holiday. His wife Allison emailed Epstein’s aide beforehand: “We are looking forward to visiting you,” and, “We would love to join you for lunch.”
While no Epstein victims have accused Lutnick of wrongdoing, the disclosure has sparked bipartisan backlash, with calls for his resignation echoing across Washington. This comes hot on the heels of depositions from Bill and Hillary Clinton, who insisted they knew nothing of Epstein’s crimes and severed contact before his 2008 Florida conviction.
Comer welcomed Lutnick’s cooperation, stating, “I commend his demonstrated commitment to transparency and appreciate his willingness to engage with the Committee.”
The hearing date remains under wraps, but Comer has also subpoenaed seven others, including Bill Gates, Doug Band, and Kathryn Ruemmler, all tangled in Epstein’s documented orbit.
Little Saint James, mockingly called “Paedophile Island,” drew elites via Epstein’s “Lolita Express” even after his prison stint. Lutnick’s trip fits a pattern of post-conviction contacts that these files expose, fuelling demands for accountability long after Epstein’s 2019 suicide.