US commerce secretary Howard Lutnick says he had lunch with Epstein on his private island

US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick admitted during a high-stakes congressional testimony in Washington D.C. on Tuesday that he and his family visited the private Caribbean island of convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein in 2012. The disclosure came as Lutnick addressed federal lawmakers to explain his past associations with the disgraced financier amid a growing political firestorm regarding his suitability for public office. The Secretary clarified that the visit, which included his wife and young children, was a social lunch engagement intended as a family trip during a period when Epstein was still integrated into high-society circles following his first conviction. During the hearing, Lutnick faced intense scrutiny from both Democrats and Republicans who questioned the judgment of such an association. The Secretary detailed that he traveled to the island via Epstein's private plane with his family, emphasizing that he was unaware of the systemic nature of Epstein's crimes at the time. Despite his attempt to frame the event as a brief and isolated social encounter, the revelation has catalyzed a bipartisan movement of lawmakers calling for his immediate resignation from the Cabinet, arguing that the association compromises his moral authority and leadership. The controversy surrounding Lutnick’s testimony highlights the enduring shadow cast by Jeffrey Epstein’s network of elite connections. Critics have pointed out that by 2012, Epstein had already served time for soliciting an underage girl, suggesting that his reputation should have been a red flag for any public-facing figure. Lutnick, however, maintained that he has had no further contact with Epstein in the years following that visit and expressed regret over the association, though his defense has yet to quell the demands for him to step down from his role leading the Commerce Department.