Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick to Testify Before House Committee About Epstein Relationship

Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick has agreed to appear voluntarily before the House Oversight Committee to answer questions about his past relationship with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

House Oversight Committee Chair James Comer announced the agreement, praising Lutnick for cooperating with the panel’s inquiry and expressing appreciation for his willingness to testify. A date for the appearance has not yet been announced but is expected soon.

The voluntary testimony comes as lawmakers from both parties have expressed interest in examining Lutnick’s past interactions with Epstein. According to sources familiar with the process, Representative Nancy Mace had been preparing to force a vote to subpoena Lutnick if the committee did not secure his appearance.

Lutnick has previously said he cut ties with Epstein in 2005 after feeling uncomfortable following a meeting at Epstein’s home. However, recently released Justice Department documents suggest Lutnick had additional contact with Epstein after that time.

According to reporting, Lutnick attempted to invite Epstein to a political fundraiser for Hillary Clinton in 2015 and sought coordinates for his boat captain to meet Epstein in 2012 at his Caribbean island.

A spokesperson for the Commerce Department has said Lutnick had only limited interactions with Epstein and has never been accused of wrongdoing.

The expected testimony could set up a political clash between congressional Republicans and the Trump administration as lawmakers continue reviewing newly released Epstein-related documents.

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