Howard Lutnick faces an explosive credibility crisis as Congressional leaders dismantle his claims of distancing himself from convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
The US Commerce Secretary endured a bruising session before the House Oversight Committee this week, where his past assertions regarding the disgraced financier were systematically picked apart.
At the heart of the scandal is a series of Howard Lutnick timeline contradictions that suggest the billionaire businessman maintained a social relationship with Epstein years after he publicly branded him 'gross'.
Representative Ro Khanna led the charge, arguing that the testimony was so disastrous that even Donald Trump would have sacked Lutnick on the spot.
Khanna's explosive remarks came after closed-door questioning tied to theHouse Oversight Committee'sbroader investigation into Epstein's network and theJustice Department's handling of related records.
The California Democrat did not mince words, saying Lutnick's explanations were so embarrassing that 'Donald Trump would have fired Howard Lutnick' if he had watched the testimony himself.
The Howard Lutnick Epstein testimony has sent shockwaves through Washington, particularly as it reveals a significant gap between public rhetoric and private records. While Lutnick previously claimed his association with Epstein ended in 2005, newly released files tell a different story.
For a political figure currently overseeing the nation's trade and commercial interests, the fallout from these revelations could be a potentially terminal blow to his public standing.
The latest controversy stems from past comments Lutnick made about distancing himself from Epstein years ago. According to testimony and public reporting reviewed by lawmakers, Lutnick previously claimed he stopped associating with Epstein in 2005 because he found him 'gross'.
But documents released through Justice Department files appear to contradict that narrative.
Source: International Business Times UK
