...
By Jason Lemon
Deputy News Director
0
Share
Newsweek is a Trust Project member
See more of our trusted coverage when you search.Prefer Newsweek on Googleto see more of our trusted coverage when you search.
Bipartisan lawmakers are calling on Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick to resign after recently released files by the Department of Justice (DOJ) showed he maintained contact with Jeffrey Epstein—discussing travel and business—years after the now deceased financier's 2008 conviction.
Representative Thomas Massie, a Kentucky Republican, a lead author of the transparency law compelling the Epstein documents release, said Lutnick “has a lot to answer for,” as Democrats including Senator Adam Schiff and Representative Robert Garcia, both of California, also demanded the Cabinet official step down or be fired.
The Commerce Department previously said Lutnick had “limited interactions with Mr. Epstein in the presence of his wife and has never been accused of wrongdoing.”
Read More on Politics
Why It Matters
The release of documents related to Epstein, who died by suicide in a New York federal jail in 2019 while awaiting trial on charges of sex trafficking, has created a political firestorm for the White House. Critics have accused the administration of slow walking the release of the files despite an overwhelming majority of Congress voting to force their release late last year.
The calls for Lutnick to resign put new pressure on the Trump administration. President Donald Trump previously campaigned on releasing the files but began calling the effort a "hoax" last year. More recently, the president has said the country should move on, despite calls for greater transparency of the matter coming from Republicans and Democrats alike.
What To Know
Massie said on CNN’s Inside Politics that Lutnick should "resign," citing emails and other records indicating the Trump official maintained interactions with Epstein years after 2008, including planning a visit to Epstein’s Caribbean island.
"He should just resign," the Republican, who has drawn Trump's ire for his efforts to push for the Epstein files release, said of Lutnick. "He was in business with Jeffrey Epstein—and this was many years after Epstein was convicted for sexual crimes. So, he’s got a lot to answer for."
The disgraced financier, and former Trump friend, was convicted in 2008 by a Florida state court of procuring a child for prostitution and soliciting a prostitute. In July 2019, Epstein was arrested again, this time on federal charges for sex trafficking of minors and conspiracy to engage in sex trafficking. The next month he died by suicide in prison.
The DOJ released more than 3 million files tied to Epstein pursuant to the transparency law, and published excerpts of 2012 emails discussing potential meetings in St. Thomas and dinner plans. Lutnick appears to have visited Epstein’s private island with his family on at least one occasion in December of that year. Lutnick and Epstein—who were next-door neighbors in New York—appear to have interacted regularly for years after 2005, including a 2011 meeting for drinks, and a 2015 fundraising invitation from Lutnick to Epstein.
"It’s now clear that Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick has been lying about his relationship with Epstein. He said he had no interactions with Epstein after 2005, yet we now know they were in business together. Lutnick must resign or be fired. And he must answer our questions," Garcia, ranking member of the House Oversight Committee, wrote in a Sunday X post.
House Oversight members, as well as Massie, plan to review unredacted DOJ files tied to Epstein this week, with Chairman James Comer, a Kentucky Republican, not ruling out a subpoena for Lutnick while prioritizing other witnesses.
...
What People Are Saying
A Commerce Department spokesperson told Newsweek on Monday: “This is nothing more than a failing attempt by the legacy media to distract from the administration’s accomplishments, including securing trillions of dollars in investment, delivering historic trade deals and fighting for the American worker. Mr. and Mrs. Lutnick met Jeffrey Epstein in 2005 and had very limited interactions with him over the next 14 years.”
White House spokesperson Kush Desai in a statement: “President Trump has assembled the best and most transformative cabinet in modern history. The entire Trump administration, including Secretary Lutnick and the Department of Commerce, remains focused on delivering for the American people.”
Representative Thomas Massie, a Kentucky Republican, to CNN on Sunday: “He should just resign. I mean, there are three people in Great Britain that have resigned in politics. The ambassador from Great Britain to the United States, the prince lost his title for less than what we’ve seen Howard Lutnick lie about.”
Senator Adam Schiff, a California Democrat, wrote on X Monday: “Secretary Howard Lutnick lied to the country about his ties to Epstein. Now we learned that they were in business together. He has no business being our Commerce Secretary. He should resign.”
Senator Ted Lieu, a California Democrat, wrote on X Saturday: "Secretary @howardlutnick must resign. He’s despicable for vacationing on Epstein Island with child rapist Jeffrey Epstein. He’s despicable for going on national TV and lying about his relationship with Epstein."
Representative Brendan Boyle, a Pennsylvania Democrat, wrote on X Monday: "Lutnick is lying to the American people — he clearly maintained a relationship with Epstein and is now trying to hide it. Secretary Lutnick should resign."
Micah Erfan, a political commentator with over 50,000 followers on X, wrote: "Direct evidence that Lutnick was not only hanging with Epstein 8 years after he swore he cut ties, but also sourcing a 'nanny' from him. He must resign or be impeached. There are no other options."
What Happens Next
Members of Congress will review unredacted Epstein files at the DOJ this week and hold a joint readout, while House Oversight leaders signaled additional depositions and did not rule out a subpoena for Lutnick.
The White House indicated it would not move to dismiss Lutnick, and the Commerce Department has maintained he had limited interactions and faces no accusations of criminal wrongdoing.
In a polarized era, the center is dismissed as bland. At Newsweek, ours is different: The Courageous Center—it's not "both sides," it's sharp, challenging and alive with ideas. We follow facts, not factions. If that sounds like the kind of journalism you want to see thrive, we need you.
When you become a Newsweek Member, you support a mission to keep the center strong and vibrant. Members enjoy: Ad-free browsing, exclusive content and editor conversations. Help keep the center courageous. Join today.
View 0 Comments
Submit Correction
View Editorial & AI Guidelines