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Lutnick agrees to congressional interview
US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick will voluntarily testify before the House Oversight Committee as part of its investigation into the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, Chairman James Comer announced Tuesday.
Comer, a Kentucky Republican, said Lutnick had "proactively agreed to appear voluntarily" for a transcribed interview. No date has been set for the testimony.
Past ties to Epstein resurface
Lutnick has acknowledged visiting Epstein's private island in the Caribbean in December 2012, years after Epstein's 2008 conviction for sex crimes. The commerce secretary has not been accused of any wrongdoing by Epstein's victims.
In a 2023 congressional hearing, Lutnick stated he severed ties with Epstein in 2005 after Epstein, then his New York neighbor, made sexually suggestive remarks about owning a massage table. However, recently unsealed Justice Department documents revealed Lutnick's 2012 visit, contradicting his earlier account.
Email details emerge
Documents released by federal authorities include an email sent the day before the 2012 visit, in which Lutnick's wife, Allison, wrote to Epstein's assistant: "We are looking forward to visiting you" and expressed interest in joining Epstein for lunch.
The disclosure of the trip sparked bipartisan calls for Lutnick's resignation from the Trump administration, though no formal allegations have been made against him.
Broader investigation continues
Lutnick's testimony follows last week's depositions of former President Bill Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. Both denied prior knowledge of Epstein's crimes and stated they had ended their association with him before his 2008 conviction.
While neither Clinton has been accused of misconduct by Epstein's victims, Bill Clinton appears in investigative files, including photographs, which prompted demands for their testimony.
Committee expands witness list
After announcing Lutnick's cooperation, Comer called for seven additional individuals to testify, including Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates, former Clinton aide Doug Band, and ex-White House lawyer Kathryn Ruemmler.
"I commend his demonstrated commitment to transparency and appreciate his willingness to engage with the Committee," Comer said.
Next steps
The Oversight Committee has not released a timeline for Lutnick's interview or the additional depositions. More than 3.5 million documents related to Epstein's case have been made public under federal law.
