U.S. Commerce Secretary Lutnick acknowledges meetings with Epstein that contradict previous claims

Commerce Secretary Lutnick admits to meetings with Epstein, contradicting prior claims, amid bipartisan calls for his resignation.

Under questioning from Democrats on Tuesday (February 10, 2026), Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick acknowledged that he had met with Jeffrey Epstein twice after his 2008 conviction for soliciting prostitution from a child, reversing Mr. Lutnick’s previous claim that he had cut ties with the late financier after 2005.

Mr. Lutnick once again downplayed his relationship with the disgraced financier who was once his neighbour in New York City as he was questioned by Democrats during a subcommittee hearing of the Senate Appropriations Committee. He described their contact as a handful of emails and a pair of meetings that were years apart.

“I did not have any relationship with him. I barely had anything to do with him,” Mr. Lutnick told lawmakers.

But Mr. Lutnick is facing calls from several lawmakers for his resignation after the release of case files on Epstein contradicted Mr. Lutnick’s claims on a podcast last year that he had decided to “never be in the room” with Epstein again after a 2005 tour of Epstein’s home that disturbed Mr. Lutnick and his wife.

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