Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick acknowledged during Senate testimony Tuesday that he visited the private island of convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein in 2012, contradicting earlier statements that he had cut off all contact with Epstein after first meeting him in 2005.
The admission came after questioning from Senate Democrats, who cited recently released Department of Justice files related to Epstein that reference Lutnick multiple times. The documents include emails indicating that Lutnick was invited to Epstein’s island in December 2012, several years after Epstein pleaded guilty to soliciting a minor for prostitution.
“I did have lunch with him as I was on a boat going across on a family vacation,” Lutnick told senators.
Lutnick emphasized that the visit was brief and that he was accompanied by family members. He testified that his wife, children, nannies, and another family were present during the visit and that he did not witness any illegal or inappropriate activity.
“My wife was with me, as were my four children and nannies. I had another couple — they were there, as well with their children. And we had lunch on the island. That is true, for an hour, and we left with all of my children, with my nannies, and my wife, all together. We were all together,” Lutnick said.
“I don’t recall why we did it,” he added.
Senate Democrats pressed Lutnick on discrepancies between his testimony and prior claims made to Congress. Lawmakers noted that Lutnick had previously described his initial encounter with Epstein in 2005 as deeply troubling and suggested he had severed ties shortly thereafter.
Emails disclosed in the Epstein-related files show that Epstein’s assistant later wrote to Lutnick following the 2012 visit, stating, “It was nice seeing you.”
Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), the ranking member of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies, said the new disclosures raised concerns about Lutnick’s credibility.
“You led people to believe that you had cut off all contact with Jeffrey Epstein after the 2005 encounter you and your wife had in his apartment. As I’m sure you know, the Epstein files show a very different record of interaction,” Van Hollen said.
Van Hollen also questioned why Lutnick would have coordinated a visit years later, given Epstein’s criminal conviction.
“Why do the Epstein files show you coordinating a meeting and planning a visit with Jeffrey Epstein on his private island in December of 2012?” he asked.
Lutnick testified that he first met Epstein after Epstein moved next door to him in New York City in 2005. He said his interactions with Epstein were extremely limited over the years.
“Over the next 14 years, I met him two other times that I can recall. Two times. None for six years. Six years later, I met him. And then a year and a half after that I met him, and never again,” Lutnick said.
“Of these millions and millions of documents, there may be 10 emails connecting me with him, probably 10 emails connecting me with him. Over a 14-year period, I did not have any relationship with him. I barely had anything to do with that person,” he added.
Van Hollen argued that this account conflicted with Lutnick’s earlier statements to Congress.
“Secretary Lutnick, I think you understand the root of concern here. It’s the way you described very emphatically his first encounter with him in his apartment. You said you were disgusted, would never have any contact with him again,” the senator said.
When directly asked whether he visited Epstein’s private island, Lutnick acknowledged that he had.
He maintained, however, that nothing he observed during the visit raised concerns.
“The only thing I saw with my wife and my children and the other couple and their children were staff who worked with Mr. Epstein on that island,” Lutnick said.
Van Hollen noted that the visit occurred after Epstein’s conviction and also questioned a document suggesting Lutnick attended a 2011 dinner with filmmaker Woody Allen at Epstein’s residence.
“No,” Lutnick responded. “I actually don’t know what you’re referring to.”
“I looked through the millions of documents for my name, just like everybody else, and what I found was there was a document that said that I had a meeting with him in May, I think, for an hour at 5 o’clock. Not dinner or otherwise,” he said.
