US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick has agreed to testify before a congressional panel investigating the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
The chairman of the House Oversight Committee, James Comer, announced on Tuesday that Lutnick “has proactively agreed to appear voluntarily” for a transcribed interview as part of the ongoing inquiry. No date has yet been publicly scheduled for the testimony.
Visit to Epstein’s Island
Lutnick recently acknowledged that he visited Epstein’s private Caribbean island in December 2012 — several years after Epstein had been convicted of sex crimes in Florida in 2008. The visit was disclosed in millions of documents released by the US Justice Department as part of its investigations into Epstein.
The commerce secretary has not been accused of any wrongdoing by Epstein’s victims.
In previous statements to Congress, Lutnick said he cut ties with Epstein in 2005 after what he described as inappropriate remarks made by Epstein during a conversation about a massage table in his home. However, confirmation of the 2012 island visit has drawn bipartisan scrutiny, with some lawmakers calling for his resignation.
Emails released in the document dump show Lutnick and his wife, Allison, planned the visit in advance, expressing that they were “looking forward” to the trip and hoped to join Epstein for lunch.
Broader Inquiry Expands
The announcement comes shortly after former US President Bill Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton testified before the committee. Both stated they had no prior knowledge of Epstein’s crimes and said they severed ties with him before his 2008 conviction.
Neither of the Clintons has been accused of wrongdoing by Epstein’s victims, though Bill Clinton’s name appears in investigative files and photographs connected to Epstein, prompting calls for their depositions.
Following the announcement of Lutnick’s planned appearance, Comer also requested transcribed interviews from several other high-profile figures, including Bill Gates, Clinton aide Doug Band, and former White House lawyer Kathryn Ruemmler.
Political Pressure Mounts
Lutnick, who is widely regarded as a key architect of former President Donald Trump’s global tariff policy, now faces heightened political pressure as the inquiry widens. Lawmakers from both parties have emphasised the importance of transparency as Congress examines Epstein’s network of associates.
The House Oversight Committee has said it aims to clarify the extent of connections between Epstein and prominent individuals, particularly regarding interactions that occurred after his conviction.
As the investigation continues, further testimony and document reviews are expected to shape the political and legal landscape surrounding one of the most controversial criminal cases in recent US history.
