U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick has admitted visiting Jeffrey Epstein’s Little St James island on 23 December 2012, contradicting his prior claim of cutting ties in 2005.
The island, bought by Epstein in 1998, featured abuse allegations tied to his 2008 conviction for underage prostitution. Lutnick’s trip details appear in over 3.5 million U.S. Department of Justice files released under a law co-sponsored by Representatives Ro Khanna and Thomas Massie.
Testifying on Capitol Hill Tuesday, Lutnick said it occurred during a family boat trip. “I did have lunch with him as I was on a boat going across on a family vacation,” he stated. “My wife was with me, as were my four children and nannies. We had lunch on the island. That is true. For an hour.” He added, “I don’t recall why we did it, but we did it.”
Lutnick, a Trump ally who co-chaired his 2024 transition, now recalls two more meetings over 14 years, with about 10 emails linking them. “Over a 14-year period, I did not have any relationship with him, I barely had anything to do with that person,” he said.
Senator Chris Van Hollen accused him of misleading Congress. “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,” Van Hollen said.
No charges target Lutnick, but Khanna and Massie demand his resignation. The White House backs him fully.
Meanwhile, Epstein survivors pushed Virginia’s Law to end abuse claim time limits, honouring Virginia Giuffre, who died by suicide in 2025. Her sister-in-law Amanda Roberts said, “No more laws that treat survivors as though time can erase harm. Pass Virginia’s Law.”