Scoop: Lutnick volunteers to testify on Epstein ties
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Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick at the Capitol last week for the State of the Union. Photographer: Al Drago/Bloomberg via Getty Images
Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, once a Manhattan neighbor of Jeffrey Epstein, voluntarily agreed to an interview with the House Oversight Committee over past ties to the convicted sex offender, Axios has learned.
- Lutnick told Axios: "I look forward to appearing before the committee. I have done nothing wrong and I want to set the record straight."
Why it matters: Lutnick's past association with Epstein has been under growing scrutiny since the Cabinet secretary appeared in Justice Department files.
- White House spokesman Kush Desai told Axios: "Secretary Lutnick continues to be a critical asset for President Trump, having played a key role in securing major trade and investment deals. The entire Trump administration, including Secretary Lutnick, remains focused on delivering more wins for the American people."
Driving the news: The closed-door interview, with a transcript to be released, will take place in the coming weeks.
- Lutnick hasn't been accused of wrongdoing.
House Oversight Chair James Comer (R-Ky.) said in a statement to Axios: "Secretary Lutnick has proactively agreed to appear voluntarily before the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform for a transcribed interview."
- "I commend his demonstrated commitment to transparency and appreciate his willingness to engage with the Committee. I look forward to his testimony."
- Axios is told the transcript will be released after review by Lutnick's attorney — standard committee practice for transcribed interviews.
The big picture: Democrats in both the House and Senate have been raising pressure on Lutnick.
- Senate Democrats, in a letter to Lutnick on Friday, asked him to turn over all records of his connection to Epstein and Epstein allies, Axios scooped.
President Trump has repeatedly backed Lutnick, and said Friday about possible testimony: "Howard would go in and do whatever he has to say. He's a very innocent guy — doing a good job."
- A slew of high-profile Americans are named in Epstein files released by the Justice Department, and few have given a detailed public accounting of their interactions with the disgraced financier, whose death in jail in 2019 was ruled a suicide.
Behind the scenes: Lutnick, 64, called Comer to tell the chairman he's willing to address any questions from the committee, an administration source told Axios.
- Lutnick also testified about Epstein at a Senate Appropriations hearing on Feb. 10. Lutnick said: "I did not have any relationship with him. I barely had anything to do with that person."
The backdrop: Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton was asked about Lutnick during last week's six hours of House testimony about Epstein.
- In video released by the committee on Monday, Clinton sparred with Rep. Nancy Mace (R-S.C.) when asked about her connection to Lutnick.
- Clinton worked with Lutnick in the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks, and became visibly perturbed and pounded her palm on the table as she responded to Mace, AP reports.
Lutnick said on a New York Post podcast last fall that after seeing the creepy "massage room" during a tour of Epstein's townhouse in 2005, "my wife and I decided that I will never be in the room with that disgusting person ever again."
- But the DOJ's Epstein files later showed Lutnick had two engagements with Epstein years later: He met at Epstein's home in 2011, and in 2012 his family had lunch with Epstein on his private Caribbean island.
- Lutnick told the Senate Appropriations Committee last month that he visited the island with his wife, children and nannies. "I don't recall why we did it," he said.
Go deeper: Global leaders in Epstein files.
