• Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick admitted to visiting Epstein's island in 2012.
• Bipartisan lawmakers are calling for Lutnick's resignation due to conflicting statements.
• Justice Department files release contradicted previous claims of severed ties with Epstein.
• Lutnick insists he had minimal interactions with Epstein over the years.

US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick confirmed on February 10, 2026, that he visited Jeffrey Epstein's private island in 2012, acknowledging a lunch with Epstein during a family vacation. This admission contradicted his earlier claims of cutting ties with Epstein after 2005, following allegations of Epstein's criminal activities. senator Chris Van Hollen and other lawmakers grilled Lutnick during a Senate Appropriations Committee hearing, questioning the validity of his previous assertions that he "barely had anything to do" with Epstein, especially after the release of related Justice Department files, according to Reuters and South China Morning Post.

During the Senate hearing, Lutnick emphasized that he had no substantive relationship with Epstein, despite evidence from emails and documents suggesting continued contact into the 2010s. "Over a 14-year period, I did not have any relationship with him," Lutnick stated. Nevertheless, U.S. lawmakers from both parties expressed increasing concern, with Democrats and Republicans alike calling for his resignation. Notably, Senator Adam Schiff remarked that Lutnick "has no business being our Commerce Secretary," highlighting the severity of the situation, according to Al Jazeera and India Times.

Lutnick's defense also included a statement asserting that he only met Epstein three times in 14 years, emphasizing that their interactions did not warrant the level of scrutiny he now faces. He noted that the Justice Department files reveal plans for a 2012 lunch on Little Saint James Island but insisted this was merely a family outing, attended by his wife and children, without any incriminating encounters. These remarks were made during a time of heightened public interest in Epstein’s extensive network of powerful individuals and the ongoing scrutiny of those ties, according to Los Angeles Times and ABC News.

Additonally, Lutnick's admission led to speculation regarding a potential joint investment with Epstein in a technology firm in 2012, further complicating his claims of distancing from the financier post-2005. As public and political pressure mounts, several lawmakers are advocating for increased transparency, urging Lutnick to disclose all communications related to his dealings with Epstein. This urgency mirrors recent political drama in the UK, where Epstein's ties to prominent figures have triggered significant fallout and resignations, according to CBS News and BBC.

As the investigation continues, responses from the Trump administration have been supportive of Lutnick, with White House spokespeople reiterating that he remains a valued member of the cabinet, despite the controversy surrounding his past associations. This ongoing situation highlights the challenges faced by the Trump administration in managing the fallout from Epstein's extensive network and the implications for those linked to him, according to Le Monde and Channel News Asia.