Commerce Chief LIED About Epstein — Lawmakers EXPLODE

Truth casting shadow spelling Lies on curved surface. — SHOCKING LIES

Bipartisan lawmakers are demanding President Trump’s Commerce Secretary resign or be fired after newly released Jeffrey Epstein files expose years of hidden business dealings and communications with the convicted sex offender—directly contradicting his public claims that he severed all ties in 2005.

Story Snapshot

Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick faces bipartisan calls to resign after Epstein files reveal a 2012 business partnership and ongoing contact through 2018, years after Epstein’s 2008 conviction.
Lutnick publicly told the New York Post he cut ties with Epstein in 2005, calling him “disgusting,” but documents show he signed an investment deal in 2012 and exchanged emails as late as 2018.
Republican Rep. Thomas Massie and Democrat Rep. James Walkinshaw both demand accountability, with Massie stating Lutnick “clearly went to the island” based on file evidence.
The House Oversight Committee is reviewing 3 million unredacted Epstein documents and deposing Ghislaine Maxwell as scrutiny intensifies on Trump Cabinet members.

Cabinet Member Caught in Epstein Web

Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, a billionaire former CEO of Cantor Fitzgerald, now faces intense pressure from lawmakers on both sides of the aisle following revelations in newly released Department of Justice files. Documents released January 30, 2026, show Lutnick signed a business agreement with Epstein on December 28, 2012, to acquire stakes in Adfin, an advertising technology company. This deal occurred four years after Epstein pleaded guilty to soliciting prostitution from a minor in Florida. Lutnick’s LLC, CVAFH I, partnered with Epstein’s Southern Trust Company in the transaction, contradicting Lutnick’s repeated assertions that he distanced himself from the financier years earlier.

Public Denials Unravel Under Document Scrutiny

Lutnick previously told the New York Post that he ended his relationship with Epstein in 2005 after visiting Epstein’s Manhattan townhouse and finding the atmosphere “disgusting.” He claimed interactions thereafter were minimal and always included his wife. The Epstein files paint a starkly different picture. Communications continued well beyond 2012, with Epstein’s assistant forwarding Lutnick documents on U.S. Virgin Islands casino legislation in January 2013. In 2017, Epstein donated fifty thousand dollars to a dinner honoring Lutnick, and in 2018, Lutnick emailed Epstein about a neighboring museum expansion that could impact Epstein’s property views. These interactions span a decade after Lutnick’s claimed cutoff date, raising serious questions about truthfulness and judgment for a Cabinet official entrusted with America’s economic interests.

Emails show US Commerce Secretary Lutnick planned Epstein island visit https://t.co/V3q2ywxL5E

— BBC News (World) (@BBCWorld) January 31, 2026

Bipartisan Outrage Demands Accountability

Republican Congressman Thomas Massie of Kentucky did not mince words, stating Lutnick should resign immediately. Massie asserted that based on the files, Lutnick “clearly went to the island” and maintained business relationships with Epstein “many years after conviction.” Democrat Representative James Walkinshaw of Virginia, ranking member of the House Oversight Committee, echoed these sentiments, accusing Lutnick of lying about the extent of his ties. Walkinshaw declared that Lutnick “must resign or be fired,” emphasizing that deception on this scale undermines public trust in the administration. This rare bipartisan consensus signals the gravity of the allegations and the potential political liability for President Trump if Lutnick remains in his post.

Commerce Department Deflects Amid File Review

The Commerce Department has attempted damage control, dismissing the revelations as a “legacy media distraction” from Lutnick’s achievements in securing trade deals and investments. A department spokesperson emphasized that Lutnick has never been accused of wrongdoing and characterized his interactions with Epstein as limited and always accompanied by his wife. Sources close to Lutnick claim he was unaware that Epstein was a co-investor in Adfin, portraying Cantor Fitzgerald’s stake as a minority investment among many partners. However, this defense strains credulity given the signed documents bearing Lutnick’s name alongside Epstein’s LLC. The House Oversight Committee is now reviewing three million unredacted pages of Epstein files and has scheduled a deposition of Ghislaine Maxwell, Epstein’s convicted accomplice, for February 9-10, 2026. These proceedings could expose additional damaging details.

Implications for Trump Administration Integrity

This scandal carries echoes of Alexander Acosta’s resignation as Trump’s Labor Secretary in 2019, when his role in Epstein’s lenient 2008 plea deal became untenable. Lutnick’s case is arguably more damaging because it involves post-conviction business dealings, not merely past prosecutorial decisions. For conservatives who value transparency, accountability, and the rule of law, the idea that a sitting Cabinet member maintained financial ties with a convicted sex offender while publicly denying it is indefensible. President Trump has not yet commented on whether he will demand Lutnick’s resignation, but the bipartisan nature of the calls suggests prolonged silence may erode support among his base. Americans deserve leaders who uphold moral standards and tell the truth, especially when associations with figures like Epstein are at stake. The administration must decide whether political loyalty outweighs the principles of honesty and integrity that conservatives hold dear.