US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick confirmed on Capitol Hill that he visited Jeffrey Epstein’s Caribbean island in 2012. The admission contradicts his previous claims that he cut ties with the convicted sex offender years earlier.
Lutnick said he had lunch on the island while travelling with his wife, four children, and nannies during a family holiday. “I don’t recall why we did it, but we did it,” he said.
Emails released by the US Department of Justice document the visit. In December 2012, Lutnick’s wife Allison emailed Epstein’s assistant: “We are looking forward to visiting you,” and, “We would love to join you for lunch.”
Political pressure grows amid White House support
Some lawmakers called for Lutnick to resign after the revelation, but the White House confirmed he retains President Donald Trump’s full support.
Lutnick previously told Congress he ended contact with Epstein in 2005 after an incident involving sexual innuendo over a massage table in Epstein’s New York home. He testified he met Epstein only two more times over the next 14 years, including the 2012 island lunch and a later hour-long meeting.
Lutnick noted that out of millions of Epstein documents released by the justice department, only about ten emails connect him to Epstein. He has not faced any allegations of wrongdoing.
Lawmakers challenge conflicting accounts
Senator Chris Van Hollen criticised Lutnick for misrepresenting his relationship with Epstein to Congress, the public, and survivors of Epstein’s abuse.
The justice department has released over 3.5 million pages of Epstein-related records, naming several high-profile figures. Appearing in the documents does not imply wrongdoing.
Retail billionaire Les Wexner, former Victoria’s Secret CEO, appears in the records as a potential “co-conspirator.” His legal team confirmed he fully co-operated with authorities and was never a target. Sultan Ahmed Bin Sulayem, CEO of Dubai Ports World, is another figure identified. Authorities are verifying the identities of four additional unredacted individuals.
Survivors push for Virginia’s Law
While Lutnick testified, survivors gathered nearby to promote Virginia’s Law, which aims to remove the statute of limitations for civil claims of sexual abuse.
The law is named after Virginia Giuffre, a prominent Epstein survivor who died by suicide in 2025. Her sister-in-law, Amanda Roberts, urged lawmakers: “No more laws that treat survivors as though time can erase harm. Pass Virginia’s Law.”
The Lutnick-Epstein visit has intensified bipartisan scrutiny and renewed the debate over accountability in Epstein’s network.
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