"Lutnick again downplayed his relationship with the disgraced financier who was once his neighbor 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," Lutnick told lawmakers."
"The commerce secretary told senators Tuesday that he and his family actually had lunch with Epstein on his private island in 2012 and he had another hour-long engagement at Epstein's home in 2011. Lutnick, a member of President Donald Trump's Cabinet, is the highest-profile U.S. official to face bipartisan calls for his resignation amid revelations of his ties to Epstein. His acknowledgement comes as lawmakers are grasping for what accountability looks like amid the revelations contained in what's known as the Epstein files."
Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick acknowledged meeting Jeffrey Epstein in 2011 and 2012, including an hour-long engagement at Epstein's home in 2011 and a family lunch on Epstein's private island in 2012. Lutnick described his overall contact with Epstein as a handful of emails and two meetings years apart, and he denied having a relationship with Epstein. The acknowledgements contradicted Lutnick's prior statement that he had cut ties after a 2005 visit. Lawmakers have intensified scrutiny and called for accountability, with bipartisan calls for Lutnick's resignation amid revelations in the Epstein files and comparisons to resignations in other countries.
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