Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick downplayed his contact with Jeffrey Epstein in a closed-door interview with the House Oversight Committee, according to a transcript released Thursday. Lutnick told investigators his interactions with Epstein were “virtually nonexistent” despite having met him in person three times.
The comments came during a voluntary interview last week, following revelations that Lutnick’s contact with Epstein extended years beyond what he initially claimed in public.
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Lutnick testified that he interacted with Epstein in 2005, 2011, and 2012 at a lunch on Epstein’s island. He claimed these interactions were “meaningless and inconsequential” and that he had no personal or professional relationship with Epstein.
Despite Lutnick‘s assertions, the transcript is unlikely to satisfy critics who have accused him of covering up ties to the convicted sex offender. Democrats on the committee said he still had more to explain, and two suggested he should resign if he couldn’t provide a more thorough explanation of his and Epstein’s interactions.
A Commerce spokesperson said Lutnick answered “nearly 400 questions” during his testimony, where “he explained repeatedly that three encounters do not constitute a relationship.”
Lutnick testified that in 2005, he and his wife were invited to Epstein‘s house for coffee, where Epstein made a “crude” remark that prompted them to leave. He said he asked Epstein about a massage table in his house, and Epstein replied that he had massages “every day and the right kind of massage.”
Lutnick interpreted this comment to mean that Epstein’s massages “would become in some form sexual in nature” and described it as “inappropriate,” “gross,” and “off-putting.”
After the meeting, Lutnick said he and his wife decided not to establish a personal or professional relationship with Epstein. However, the Epstein files released by the Justice Department revealed that Lutnick and Epstein had at least two more interactions after that.
Lutnick backtracked on several comments he made in a podcast interview in 2025, including theories that Epstein recorded what took place in his massage room and that he was the “greatest blackmailer ever.”
He insisted that his views were “speculating for a podcast” and that his theories about blackmail were based on Epstein‘s wealth. When asked why his views had changed, Lutnick said it was because administration officials had provided more information.
The Epstein files also contained email correspondence and calendar invites for phone calls, and evidence that Epstein and Lutnick were invested in the same business venture. Lutnick testified that he didn’t know they were both invested in the same company until the files were released.
In 2012, Lutnick testified that Epstein‘s staff “inexplicably” contacted his office about his family’s planned holiday travels to the Caribbean. Despite finding this “unsettling,” Lutnick ended up bringing his family to have lunch with Epstein on his island.
Lutnick called the encounter “brief, meaningless, and inconsequential.” He also detailed a 2011 encounter where he met with Epstein in his hallway to discuss scaffolding and construction impacting their neighboring properties.
Lutnick is the highest-ranking Trump administration official named in the Epstein files, and his appearance marked a rare occurrence of a sitting Cabinet official testifying in a congressional probe.
The White House has expressed confidence in Lutnick, despite calls for his resignation. The Republican-led panel is expected to question former Attorney General Pam Bondi later this month about her role in overseeing the release of the Epstein case files.
The Epstein scandal continues to hang over President Donald Trump and his administration, despite efforts to move on from it. The investigation is ongoing, with more testimony and releases of information expected in the coming months.
In room 214 of the Capitol building, Lutnick‘s testimony was recorded on a Tuesday morning, starting at 10:00 AM. The transcript of his testimony spans 247 pages.
The case files released by the Justice Department contain 2,000 pages of documents, including emails, calendar invites, and witness statements. The files have been released in batches over the past few months, with more expected to come.
As the investigation continues, Lutnick‘s role in the Epstein scandal remains a topic of interest. The Commerce Secretary’s testimony has provided more insight into his interactions with Epstein, but questions still remain about the nature of their relationship.
In a statement, a White House official said, “We are confident in Howard Lutnick‘s ability to lead the Commerce Department.” The official added that there are “no planned changes” to Lutnick‘s role in the administration.
The Epstein scandal has led to widespread concern about the handling of sex abuse allegations and the relationships between powerful individuals and those accused of wrongdoing. As the investigation unfolds, more information is expected to come to light about Lutnick‘s interactions with Epstein and the circumstances surrounding their meetings.
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