Cabinet member has denied any wrongdoing in relation to disgraced financier but has faced questions over their past association, particularly a lunch he attended on the latter’s private island in 2012
Removed from bookmarks
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Commerce SecretaryHoward Lutnickwill testify before theHouse Oversight Committeeon May 6 regarding his past association with the late pedophileJeffrey Epstein, according to reports.
Kentucky Republican Rep. James Comer, the panel’s chairman, announced on March 3 that Lutnick had“proactively agreed to appear voluntarily”and applauded his “demonstrated commitment to transparency” but did not at that stage offer a schedule.
Sources close to the committee have now given the May datetoCNNand a number of other media outlets.
“It’s a voluntary transcribed interview,” a person familiar with the mattertoldCNBC.
Lutnick hasdenied any wrongdoingin relation to Epstein, who died in a New York City jail cell in August 2019 while awaiting trial, but has faced questions about his past relations with the disgraced financier.
The secretary toldPod Force Onepresenter Miranda Devine in October that hehad been a neighbor of Epstein’s in New Yorkand once visited his brownstone in 2005 but was appalled when his host made a creepy comment about receiving “the right kind of massages” during a tour of the property.
“In the six to eight steps it takes to get from his house to my house, my wife and I decided that I will never be in the room with that disgusting person ever again,” Lutnick told Devine.
However, the release of the Epstein files by theDepartment of Justicein late December and January revealed that the men had remained in contact after all. Inclusion in the files is not an indication of any wrongdoing.
Lutnick subsequently told the Senate Appropriations Committee on February 10 that he and his family hadhad lunch with the billionaireon Little St James, hisprivate Caribbean island, in December 2012.
The occasion came more than four years after Epstein had pleaded guilty to soliciting an underage girl for prostitution in Florida state court, an offense for which he served 13 months behind bars.
