Commerce Secretary Faces Pressure After Revelations About Epstein Meetings

Wed Feb 11 2026 01:21:27 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

Howard Lutnick admits to dining with Jeffrey Epstein years after his conviction, raising questions about accountability in U.S. leadership.

During a recent Senate hearing, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick acknowledged having met with Jeffrey Epstein multiple times after Epstein's conviction for soliciting prostitution from a child. This admission contradicts Lutnick's earlier claims of severing ties with Epstein in 2005, leading to bipartisan calls for his resignation. Lawmakers are pushing for accountability in light of the Epstein files, which have triggered resignations and repercussions in other countries. Senators questioned Lutnick about the misleading nature of his previous statements, indicating that while he may not have engaged in wrongdoing, the implications of his associations with Epstein raise serious concerns.

WASHINGTON (AP) — Under questioning from Democrats on Tuesday, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick admitted to meeting with Jeffrey Epstein at least twice after the financier's 2008 conviction for soliciting prostitution from a minor. This marked a shift from Lutnick's prior assertion that he had completely severed ties with Epstein by 2005.

Lutnick characterized their interactions as minimal, involving only a few emails and two separate meetings. I did not have any relationship with him. I barely had anything to do with him, he told lawmakers during a Senate Appropriations Committee hearing.

Despite his assertions, Lutnick is now facing calls for his resignation from several lawmakers following the release of documents related to the Epstein case. These records contradict Lutnick's previous claims that he would avoid contact with Epstein after experiencing discomfort during a house tour in 2005.

According to Lutnick, he and his family dined with Epstein on his private island in 2012 and met him at his home in 2011. As a member of President Donald Trump’s cabinet, Lutnick finds himself under scrutiny, with bipartisan lawmakers expressing frustration over his associations with Epstein.

In other countries, such as the UK, the fallout from the Epstein files has led to political resignations, but similar action in the U.S. remains elusive. Sen. Chris Van Hollen remarked that Lutnick may have misled Congress, and ongoing pressure is mounting for accountability from officials tied to Epstein.

Rep. Thomas Massie called for Lutnick's resignation after emails referring to their meetings were disclosed. Meanwhile, Rep. Ro Khanna emphasized that allowing powerful individuals to interact with known offenders without consequence is unacceptable.