Lutnick sought to clean up Epstein revelations in closed testimony to House committee

"“It was trying to tell a story and be descriptive, which I thought was an accurate description, which was that I would avoid establishing a professional and personal relationship with him,” he said."

"Documents within the files released by the Justice Department showed that Lutnick and his family visited the sex offender's island in 2012 - about four years after Epstein's conviction in Florida on charges that included soliciting prostitution from a minor."

"That contradicted his podcast interview in which he said he had known for years that Epstein was a “disgusting person” and he would “never be in the room” under any circumstances."

"Lutnick claimed that he had “virtually nonexistent interactions” with Epstein, who became his next-door neighbor when he moved into a renovated New York City home in 2005. That year, he and his wife had been invited to Epstein's home for coffee."

Lutnick described comments about Epstein as non-literal and intended to avoid establishing a professional and personal relationship. Justice Department files released later showed Lutnick and his family visited Epstein’s island in 2012, about four years after Epstein’s Florida conviction involving soliciting prostitution from a minor. This conflicted with his earlier podcast claim that he had known Epstein was a disgusting person and would never be in the room. Lutnick told the House Oversight Committee that he was not being literal and that his remarks were meant to tell a story. His congressional interview occurred under unusual political circumstances, including questioning by a panel led by his own party, amid broader scrutiny of alleged ties between Trump and Epstein. Lutnick declined to discuss whether he spoke with President Donald Trump about Epstein and claimed virtually nonexistent interactions with Epstein, who became his next-door neighbor after a 2005 move. That year, he and his wife were invited to Epstein’s home for coffee.

Read at POLITICO