U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick acknowledged during congressional testimony that he visited Jeffrey Epstein’s private Caribbean island in 2012, stating the trip occurred while he was traveling with his family on vacation.
Speaking before the Senate Appropriations Committee, Lutnick said he, his wife, children, and another family stopped at the island for approximately one hour to have lunch with Epstein before leaving together. He emphasized that the visit was brief and described his interactions with Epstein as limited, saying he “barely had anything to do” with the financier.
The admission comes amid increased scrutiny following the release of additional Epstein-related documents that reference interactions between the two men over a number of years. Lawmakers from both political parties have raised questions about the extent of Lutnick’s past contact with Epstein, with some calling for further disclosure of records related to the relationship.
During the hearing, Lutnick stated that he was not aware of any inappropriate activities during the visit and reiterated that he has not engaged in wrongdoing connected to Epstein. Congressional members indicated they may request additional documentation to ensure that official records regarding contacts with Epstein are complete.
The testimony marks one of the most direct public acknowledgments by a senior government official regarding a past visit to Epstein’s private island, an issue that continues to draw political and public attention as more documents related to the long-running investigation are reviewed.
