U.S. Commerce Secretary Lutnick admitted at a Senate hearing on the 10th that after Epstein was convicted in 2008 of soliciting minors for prostitution, he met with Epstein twice.
This contradicts his previous claim that he had cut off ties with Epstein after 2005.
At a hearing held by a subcommittee of the Senate Appropriations Committee, Lutnick said that he and his family had lunch with Epstein in 2012 on Epstein's private island, and he had a meeting with Epstein at Epstein's home in 2011.
However, last year on a podcast, Lutnick stated that he and Epstein were neighbors, and that after visiting Epstein's residence with his family in 2005, he decided to "never again be in the same room with Epstein."
At the hearing, Lutnick once again downplayed his relationship with Epstein, stating that their contact was limited to a few emails and two meetings years apart.
He said, "I have no relationship with him. I hardly had any dealings with him."
Later that day, White House Press Secretary Leavitt told the media at the White House, "(President Trump) fully supports the Secretary, and Secretary Lutnick remains a very important member of President Trump's team."
Several emails recently made public by the U.S. Department of Justice show that Epstein invited Lutnick to have lunch on his private island in the Caribbean in December 2012, and Lutnick and his family accepted. This contradicts what Lutnick said last year. Multiple U.S. lawmakers have therefore called for Lutnick's resignation, citing that he 'lied' about his connection to Epstein.
Epstein was convicted in 2008 of soliciting minors for prostitution. In July 2019, he was again arrested on suspicion of sex crimes, and died in prison in August of the same year, ruled as "suicide." The Epstein case drew widespread negative attention because it involved numerous heavyweight figures in both the American and European political and business worlds. Trump and his administration officials and allies were also implicated.