Lutnick described the continued association as “inexplicable,” a characterization that did little to satisfy Democrats on the panel who accused him of being evasive and dishonest during the hourslong proceeding.
The interview, part of the committee’s ongoing investigation into Epstein’s criminal network and the powerful figures connected to him, marked the first time Lutnick has publicly addressed the timeline of his relationship with Epstein under formal questioning. Lutnick has not been accused of any wrongdoing related to Epstein’s crimes, but his shifting account of their association has drawn scrutiny from both parties.
Democrats leaving the interview room described a secretary who appeared nervous and struggled to explain inconsistencies in his previous public statements. Rep. Suhas Subramanyam of Virginia told reporters that Lutnick “was evasive, nervous — he was dishonest,” adding that the commerce secretary “would not admit to lying, which he clearly did.”
Because the session was a transcribed interview rather than a deposition, Lutnick was not placed under oath and the proceedings were not recorded on video. That distinction frustrated Democratic members, who argued that the lack of a visual record deprived the public of the chance to assess Lutnick’s demeanor firsthand.
Rep. James Walkinshaw of Virginia said the American people “deserve to see the sweat on the secretary’s brow as he struggles to answer basic questions about his lies to the American people.” Rep. Yassamin Ansari of Arizona suggested that if Democrats retake the House majority, they could recall Lutnick for a public hearing or require him to testify under oath on video.
House Oversight Chair James Comer, a Kentucky Republican, defended his decision to forgo videotaping the interview. He said the committee would release a full transcript to the public and that it would be up to the American people to “judge whether [Lutnick’s] credibility was damaged or not.” Comer also issued a pointed warning to the commerce secretary, stating that “if we find that there were any misstatements by Lutnick, it’s a felony to lie to Congress, and you’ll be held accountable.”
The acknowledgment of the island visit adds to a growing list of questions about Lutnick’s relationship with Epstein, who died by suicide in 2019 while awaiting trial on federal sex trafficking charges. The Oversight Committee’s investigation has sought to map the network of associates who maintained contact with Epstein long after his 2008 conviction for soliciting a minor, and Lutnick’s testimony is expected to be a key piece of that record.
