Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick testified before the House Oversight Committee on Wednesday, May 6, 2026, about his ties to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Lutnick, a billionaire former financial executive, faced accusations from Democratic lawmakers of lying about the extent of his relationship with Epstein.
Part 1: Immediate Action & Core Facts
Lutnick admitted during the closed-door deposition that his relationship with Epstein lasted longer than he had previously disclosed. Democrats accused him of being evasive and dishonest, while Republicans characterized his testimony as "very forthcoming."
Part 2: Deeper Dive & Context
Background on Lutnick's Epstein Ties
Lutnick, who was Epstein's neighbor in Manhattan, has maintained that he had "barely had anything to do with" Epstein. However, documents released by the Department of Justice revealed that Lutnick and his family visited Epstein's private Caribbean island in 2012, years after Epstein's abuse was public knowledge. Lutnick acknowledged the visit but claimed he did not see anything inappropriate during his stay.
Contradictory Statements
In a 2025 podcast interview, Lutnick stated he had visited Epstein's Manhattan home in 2005 and decided to sever ties with him. However, emails later emerged showing plans for the 2012 island visit, which contradicted his earlier statements. Lutnick testified that he did not have a relationship with Epstein and had "barely had anything to do with" him.
Political Reactions
Democratic lawmakers, including Arizona Congresswoman Yassamin Ansari and Representative Suhas Subramanyam, accused Lutnick of being a "pathological liar" and enabling a cover-up. They called for his resignation. Republican House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer acknowledged that Lutnick had not been "100% truthful" about the island visit but praised his testimony as "very forthcoming."
Committee's Investigation
The House Oversight Committee is investigating Epstein's connections to powerful figures. Lutnick is the first Trump Cabinet official to testify before the committee as part of this probe. The committee plans to release the transcripts of Lutnick's testimony for public review.
Additional Context
The Department of Justice's Epstein files included a photo from Lutnick's 2012 island visit, which was temporarily removed and later restored. The DOJ claimed the photo was removed as part of a batch flagged for nudity, though the photo did not contain any nudity. Lutnick also appeared to enter a business deal with Epstein in 2012, according to the DOJ documents.