Congress questions "Epstein" again; U.S. Secretary of Commerce "changes tune" and admits: visited the island in 2012

U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick admitted during a Congressional hearing that in 2012 he stayed with his family on Epstein’s private island and had lunch there. This statement contradicts his previous assertion that he had “distanced himself” from Epstein after 2005, pushing the issues of his integrity and whether he should remain in his post to the center of the political agenda.

According to the Financial Times and the Wall Street Journal, Lutnick faced intense questioning from senators at a related Appropriations Committee hearing on Tuesday. Several Democratic senators focused on whether he “misled” Congress and the public, demanding a fuller disclosure of his contacts with Epstein.

The White House chose to stand firmly behind him. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt stated that Trump “fully supports” Lutnick, calling him a “very important” member of the president’s team. The Commerce Department also said in a statement that Lutnick met Epstein in 2005 and had “very limited” interactions over the following 14 years.

But the political pressure has not subsided. Republican Congressman Thomas Massie publicly suggested he resign, and multiple Democratic lawmakers are also calling for his departure. For the markets, the controversy has heightened uncertainty over personnel in Trump’s team and raised doubts about the credibility of the Commerce Department’s communications.

Core of the hearing’s “change of statement”: 2012 island visit for lunch lasted about one hour

Lutnick stated at the hearing that the island visit occurred during a family vacation; “my wife was with me, along with four children and a nanny,” and another couple with children were also present.

He said he had lunch with Epstein on the island “for about an hour,” then left with his children, stressing “this is the fact.”

He also stated that he had searched millions of pages of material disclosed by the Justice Department, found around 10 emails related to Epstein, and declared he reviewed the documents “without fear,” since both he and his wife knew they “had not done anything improper.”

Justice Department documents broaden “scope of contact”: emails, itineraries, and business files corroborate

According to the two media outlets, recently disclosed Justice Department materials show that Lutnick’s interactions with Epstein were more frequent than he previously described publicly, at least including itinerary arrangements and subsequent business contacts.

On December 19, 2012, Lutnick emailed Epstein to ask about his whereabouts and set up a meeting, mentioning a sailing plan in the Caribbean.

Later emails confirmed the lunch plan on Little St. James island. On Christmas Eve 2012, Epstein’s assistant relayed a message saying “Nice seeing you.”

Additionally, on December 28, 2012, the two parties signed documents to acquire shares of the defunct ad-tech company Adfin through their respective entities. In May 2018, Lutnick emailed Epstein about a proposed construction project in his community.

Congressional scrutiny shifts to “misleading”: pressure on transparency and credibility

At the Senate hearing, criticism from senators did not center on allegations of criminal conduct, but rather on the contradiction between Lutnick’s public statements.

According to the Financial Times, Democratic Senator Chris Van Hollen said the issue is not whether he engaged in wrongdoing, but that he “completely misrepresented the extent of his relationship with Epstein,” which affects his “fitness for his current position” and credibility before Congress.

White House “full support” coexists with calls to resign, rising personnel uncertainty

Despite public backing from the White House, calls for Lutnick’s resignation are growing.

Leavitt stated Trump “fully supports” Lutnick, and the White House previously rejected calls for him to step down due to his ties to Epstein. But the Financial Times also mentioned that, in addition to Democrats, Republican Thomas Massie has also called for his resignation.

Democratic Congressman Robert Garcia said on X that Lutnick “must resign or be fired,” and Democratic Senator Adam Schiff also said he should resign, arguing that he “lied to the nation” about his relationship with Epstein.

Triggering broader “network” scrutiny, political risk spills over

The Financial Times noted that the disclosure of Epstein-related documents is leading to a wider review of his relationships with numerous political and business figures, including U.S. President Trump, former President Clinton, Peter Mandelson, Jes Staley, Bill Gates, Elon Musk, Kathy Ruemmler, and others in the business world.

Against this backdrop, Lutnick’s “change of statement” is not only a matter of personal controversy but also part of Congressional scrutiny of government officials’ transparency and credibility.

With the White House’s solid backing and simultaneous pressure from Congress, it appears this issue may continue to reverberate in the short term, creating additional political noise and risks to the stability of the policy team.

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