NewsThe HillMay 6, 2026United States
House Democrats Criticize Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick Over Epstein Testimony
Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick testified before the House Oversight Committee regarding his past associations with Jeffrey Epstein. Democrats accused Lutnick of being dishonest about his interactions and criticized the decision to hold the interview without video recording, while Committee Chair James Comer defended Lutnick's transparency.
Read the full story at The HillWhy It Matters
The testimony is part of an ongoing congressional investigation into Jeffrey Epstein's associations, which impacts the public record regarding the conduct of high-level government officials.
Key Facts
- Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick provided closed-door, transcribed testimony to the House Oversight Committee regarding his past contact with Jeffrey Epstein.
- Lutnick previously stated he cut off contact with Epstein in 2005, but later admitted to visiting Epstein's private island in 2012.
- Democrats criticized the committee's decision not to videotape the interview with Lutnick.
- Rep. Suhas Subramanyam stated that Lutnick could not recall the purpose of his visit to Epstein's island.
- Rep. Yassamin Ansari questioned how Lutnick could have been unaware of Epstein's legal issues given the public media coverage starting in 2008.
- Committee Chair James Comer stated that Lutnick had three interactions with Epstein over a decade and visited the island once with his family for lunch.
- Comer acknowledged that Lutnick was not initially truthful about the island visit but corrected the record in his opening statement.
- Lutnick is the first Cabinet official to testify in the committee's Epstein probe.
- Former President Bill Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton previously testified in the same investigation.
- Former Attorney General Pam Bondi is scheduled to testify later this month.
Who's Mentioned
personYassamin Ansari“Democratic Representative from Arizona.”personRo Khanna“Democratic Representative from California.”personMiranda Devine“Host of 'Pod Force One'.”personJames Comer“Republican Representative from Kentucky and Chair of the House Oversight Committ”personBill Clinton“Former President who testified earlier this year.”personSuhas Subramanyam“Democratic Representative from Virginia.”organizationHouse Oversight and Government Reform Committee“The committee conducting the investigation.”personHoward Lutnick“Commerce Secretary testifying before the House Oversight Committee.”personPam Bondi“Former Attorney General scheduled to testify.”personDonald Trump“Former President referenced by Rep. Khanna.”personJeffrey Epstein“Convicted sex offender and subject of the congressional investigation.”personHillary Clinton“Former Secretary of State who testified earlier this year.”