Howard Lutnick Gives Testimony On Epstein Island Lunch Meeting

US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick told a congressional committee in closed-door testimony that he could not clearly recall the circumstances surrounding a lunch he and his family reportedly had with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein on Epstein’s private island in 2012, according to lawmakers familiar with the session. Members of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee said Lutnick described the episode as “inexplicable” and stated that he did not remember why the visit took place. The testimony has drawn renewed scrutiny due to earlier public statements in which Lutnick had said he had distanced himself from Epstein years before the alleged lunch occurred.

Democratic Representative Suhas Subramanyam said committee members pressed Lutnick repeatedly on the matter, asking why he had visited the island. He stated that Lutnick maintained he could not recall the details of the trip or the reasoning behind it, prompting further questions from lawmakers about inconsistencies in his account.

Committee Chair James Comer, a Republican from Kentucky, later said Lutnick was generally cooperative and described his testimony as voluntary and transparent. Comer stated that Lutnick had explained Epstein had invited him and his family for lunch after learning they were vacationing in the US Virgin Islands. He also noted that any inaccuracies in testimony could carry legal consequences if proven to be deliberate misstatements.

The hearing follows earlier disclosures, including a batch of Justice Department documents released in January, which referenced Lutnick’s alleged visit to Epstein’s private island. Those materials also indicated prior email exchanges between Lutnick and Epstein and suggested occasional social and professional contact over several years. Lutnick had previously told lawmakers during a February hearing that he had minimal interaction with Epstein, stating that they exchanged only a small number of emails and met a few times over more than a decade. He also said the lunch occurred because his family happened to be nearby on a boat and were invited by Epstein.

Also Read: Trump Says Iran Deal “Very Possible” After Recent US–Iran Talks Progress

Epstein, a financier with extensive social and political connections, was previously convicted in 2008 on state charges related to prostitution involving a minor. He was later arrested in 2019 on federal charges of sex trafficking of minors. He died in a New York jail cell the same year, with authorities ruling his death a suicide. The latest testimony has added to ongoing political scrutiny surrounding Epstein’s network of associations and continues to draw attention in congressional oversight discussions involving high-profile public figures.

Also Read: China Rolls Out J-35AE As Fifth-Generation Rival To F-35 Lightning II