Comer Calls Out Commerce Secretary Lutnick for Lying About Epstein Island Visits

Republican Rep. James Comer, chair of the House Oversight Committee, publicly accused Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick of lying about his relationship with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Comer’s blunt assessment came as Lutnick faced a closed-door interview concerning his past interactions with Epstein, particularly whether he ever set foot on Epstein’s infamous private island.

Lutnick had previously told a podcast audience that after a disturbing 2005 tour of Epstein’s New York residence, he and his wife decided to avoid Epstein altogether. However, the release of court documents from the Epstein case paints a different picture. These files show Lutnick maintained contact with Epstein and met with him multiple times in 2011 and 2012.

In an unrelated Congressional hearing earlier this year, Lutnick admitted under Democratic questioning that he had visited Epstein’s private island with his family for lunch in 2012 — a claim that contradicts his earlier statements about severing ties. Comer’s remarks suggest Lutnick has repeatedly misled Congress and the public about the extent of his relationship with Epstein.

This is not just a matter of personal embarrassment or poor judgment. Epstein’s island was a central hub for trafficking and abuse, frequented by powerful elites who have long evaded accountability. Lutnick’s attempts to downplay or conceal his visits raise urgent questions about what he knew and why he kept meeting Epstein after the sex trafficker’s crimes became public.

As the Epstein files continue to expose a network of enablers and cover-ups, Lutnick’s dishonesty undermines trust in a key Cabinet official and highlights the ongoing failure to fully reckon with Epstein’s legacy. Comer’s call for truth is a reminder that accountability must extend to everyone connected to Epstein’s web — no matter how high they sit in government.

We will keep tracking this story as new developments emerge. For now, Lutnick’s evasions only deepen the shadow cast by Epstein’s crimes over the Trump administration and its associates.