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Congressional panel publishes Epstein probe testimonies
A U.S. House committee investigating the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein has made public transcripts of interviews with Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and billionaire Ted Waitt, co-founder of Gateway Computers.
Lutnick's interactions with Epstein
Lutnick, a key figure in former President Donald Trump's tariff policy, disclosed three encounters with Epstein, including a 2005 visit to Epstein's New York residence and a 2012 trip to his private Caribbean island-despite previously claiming to have severed ties in 2005.
During his voluntary testimony on May 6, Lutnick recounted a 2005 visit to Epstein's home, where he and his wife were shown a room equipped with a massage table and candles. When Lutnick asked Epstein about the setup, Epstein reportedly replied, "Every day and the right kind of massage." The comment left Lutnick unsettled, prompting him and his wife to leave shortly after.
"I found it off-putting,"
Lutnick told the House Oversight Committee.
In 2012, while vacationing in St. Thomas near Epstein's island, Lutnick received an invitation from Epstein's staff to visit. He described the encounter as uneventful, stating that the group-including his family, another couple, and staff-had lunch outdoors and left without entering any buildings.
Lutnick expressed bewilderment at how Epstein's team knew of his travel plans, calling it "unsettling."
Bipartisan calls for resignation
The revelation that Lutnick visited Epstein's island years after claiming to have cut ties sparked demands from lawmakers for his resignation. The disclosure emerged from millions of documents released by the U.S. Justice Department as part of its Epstein investigation.
Waitt's testimony on Maxwell
In a separate interview on April 30, Waitt detailed his six-year relationship with Ghislaine Maxwell, Epstein's convicted accomplice, which lasted from 2004 to 2010. He described her role as an "estate manager" for Epstein, overseeing properties and staff, but denied witnessing any misconduct.
Waitt acknowledged feeling uncomfortable with Maxwell's deference to Epstein, noting she "always kind of looked up to him." He said their relationship ended before Maxwell was publicly linked to Epstein's crimes, and he was unaware of any allegations against her until her 2020 indictment.
During their relationship, Maxwell was subpoenaed in Epstein's 2008 Florida case involving the prostitution of a minor. Waitt recalled her being "quite stressed" but denying involvement. He also stated he had minimal contact with Epstein himself and was unaware of Maxwell visiting Epstein's island.
No allegations against Lutnick or Waitt
Neither Lutnick nor Waitt has been accused of wrongdoing by Epstein's victims. The committee's probe continues as part of its broader investigation into Epstein's network and associates.
