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

#Howard Lutnick #Jeffrey Epstein #Commerce Secretary #Congress #Resignation #Private Island #Testimony

📌 Key Takeaways

  • US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick admitted to visiting Jeffrey Epstein's private island in 2012.
  • The visit included Lutnick's wife and children and involved a lunch meeting after a flight on Epstein's plane.
  • Lawmakers from both parties are now calling for Lutnick's resignation following the disclosure.
  • Lutnick defended his actions by stating the visit was a social family outing before the full extent of Epstein's crimes was known.

📖 Full Retelling

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.

🏷️ Themes

Politics, Ethics, Scandal

📚 Related People & Topics

Jeffrey Epstein

Jeffrey Epstein

American financier and child sex offender (1953–2019)

# Jeffrey Edward Epstein **Jeffrey Edward Epstein** (January 20, 1953 – August 10, 2019) was an American financier and convicted sex offender. He is notorious for orchestrating a massive human trafficking ring, procuring at least 1,000 underage girls and young women for sexual exploitation by himse...

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Resignation

Formal act of quitting one's position

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United States Secretary of Commerce

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Head of the U.S. Department of Commerce

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Howard Lutnick

Howard Lutnick

American businessman and government official (born 1961)

Howard William Lutnick (born July 14, 1961) is an American businessman and government official who has served as the 41st United States secretary of commerce since February 2025. In 1983, Lutnick was hired at Cantor Fitzgerald under the mentorship of the firm's founder, B. Gerald Cantor. In 1990, Lu...

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Congress

Congress

Formal meeting of representatives

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📄 Original Source Content
<p>As he faces calls from lawmakers to resign, Lutnick testifies that he and his family visited disgraced financier in 2012</p><p>The US commerce secretary, Howard Lutnick, had lunch with the convicted sex offender <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/jeffrey-epstein">Jeffrey Epstein</a> on the disgraced financier’s private island, he said on Tuesday, as he faces mounting calls to resign from lawmakers on both sides of the aisle.</p><p>“I did hav

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