Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, who in February was exposed for lying about his past relationship with Jeffrey Epstein, is scheduled to be interviewed by lawmakers Wednesday about his knowledge of the disgraced financier, and on Tuesday, was taunted by one of the lawmakers set to question him.
“Tomorrow I question Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick about his ties to Jeffrey Epstein,” wrote Rep. James Walkinshaw (D-VA), a member of the House Oversight Committee, the body Lutnick is scheduled to meet with Wednesday for a reported “voluntary transcribed interview.” “He already lied about visiting Epstein’s island. I’ll be pressing him for answers.”
Last year, Lutnick – a finance billionaire and longtime ally of President Donald Trump – claimed in a lengthy interview with The New York Post that he had cut off all ties with Epstein in 2005. Files recently released by the Justice Department (DOJ), however, directly contradicted Lutnick’s claim, revealing that he had not only visited Epstein on his private island in 2012, but had maintained contact with the disgraced financier through at least 2018.
Lutnick admitted to the revelations during his testimony before the Senate Appropriations Committee in February, and was fiercely scolded at the time by Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) for having “misled the country.”
Files released by the DOJ also suggested that Lutnick had engaged in business dealings with Epstein, had arranged to have drinks with Epstein in 2011, and communicated with Epstein in 2018 regarding matters related to real estate.
Tomorrow I question Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick about his ties to Jeffrey Epstein.
He already lied about visiting Epstein’s island.
I’ll be pressing him for answers. pic.twitter.com/vprG59OkGF
— Rep. James Walkinshaw (@Rep_Walkinshaw) May 5, 2026