US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick told lawmakers on Tuesday that he visited Jeffrey Epstein’s private island in 2012 with his wife and children, a statement that appears to contradict his earlier claims that he had cut off contact with Epstein years earlier, reports The Wall Street Journal.
Speaking during a Senate Appropriations subcommittee hearing, Lutnick said the visit occurred during a family vacation in the Caribbean. “My wife was with me, as were my four children and nannies. I had another couple. They were there as well with their children, and we had lunch on the island,” Lutnick said. He added that the family spent about an hour there before leaving. “We were on family vacation,” he said.
Lutnick has previously said he ended his relationship with Epstein after a visit to Epstein’s New York home in 2005, where he said he was disturbed by what he saw.
Epstein later pleaded guilty in 2008 in Florida state court to charges of procuring a child for prostitution and soliciting a prostitute. He was arrested again in 2019 on federal sex-trafficking charges and died in jail while awaiting trial. His death was ruled a suicide.
Lutnick told the panel he reviewed records released by the US Department of Justice related to the Epstein investigation and found about 10 emails connecting him with Epstein over a 14-year period. “I didn’t look through the documents with any fear whatsoever, because I know, and my wife knows, that I have done absolutely nothing wrong in any possible regard,” he said.
“I did not have any relationship with him. I barely had anything to do with that person. OK?” Lutnick said.
Sen. Chris Van Hollen, a member of the Appropriations Committee, asked whether Lutnick would share personal records related to Epstein with Congress. “I will surely talk about that. I hadn’t thought about that. I have nothing to hide, absolutely nothing,” Lutnick said.
Records released by the Justice Department show Lutnick exchanged emails with Epstein in 2011 and 2012, including messages arranging calls and confirming lunch plans on Epstein’s island, Little St. James. In one email dated Dec. 19, 2012, Lutnick wrote to Epstein asking about his location and suggesting dinner. Subsequent emails confirmed a lunch meeting. Epstein’s assistant later emailed Lutnick a message from Epstein saying, “Nice seeing you.”
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