Lutnick to Testify in Epstein Inquiry Amid Ties Scrutiny

WASHINGTON – Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick will testify before the House Oversight Committee investigating the conduct of Jeffrey Epstein, committee chairman James Comer announced on March 3, 2026. The announcement follows mounting pressure on Lutnick stemming from discrepancies between his public statements regarding his relationship with Epstein and records revealed in recently released court documents. NBC News and The Washington Post both reported the development. Lutnick, a former Modern York financier, had previously stated in a 2025 podcast that a tour of Epstein’s residence in 2005 left him deeply disturbed, leading him to resolve to avoid any further contact. “So I was never in the room with him socially, for business or even philanthropy,” he said at the time. However, records indicate Lutnick had scheduled a lunch meeting with Epstein in 2012 at Epstein’s private island, Little Saint James, also known as “Epstein Island.” During a Senate hearing in February, Lutnick confirmed the 2012 meeting, stating his family accompanied him and that he observed nothing improper. CBS News reported on Lutnick’s confirmation of the meeting. The House Oversight Committee, led by Comer, initiated its investigation into Epstein and his associate Ghislaine Maxwell in 2025. The probe gained renewed momentum with the release of extensive government files related to the pair. The New York Times detailed the committee’s ongoing investigation. The committee’s function has drawn criticism from some who allege it is being used to target political opponents of former President Donald Trump. These critics have pointed to the testimony compelled from Bill and Hillary Clinton, while Lutnick’s involvement remained unaddressed for a longer period. Comer has not yet announced a date for Lutnick’s testimony, leaving unresolved the scope and focus of the Commerce Secretary’s appearance before the committee.