• Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick admitted to visiting Epstein's private island in 2012.
• New Justice Department documents contradict Lutnick’s previous claims about his relationship with Epstein.
• Bipartisan calls for Lutnick's resignation intensify following Senate hearings.
• Lutnick continues to deny any substantive relationship with Epstein.
• Key senators question Lutnick's credibility regarding his past statements about Epstein.

Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick acknowledged during a Senate hearing that he visited Jeffrey Epstein's private island in 2012, a revelation that contradicts prior claims of ending contact with the convicted sex offender after 2005. This has triggered bipartisan calls for his resignation, as many lawmakers express concerns over his credibility and connections to Epstein, who faced serious allegations of sexual misconduct and trafficking, according to Reuters, South China Morning Post, and Los Angeles Times.

In his testimony, Lutnick maintained that he "barely knew" Epstein despite acknowledging a lunch meeting at Epstein's island during a family vacation. "I did have lunch with him," Lutnick said, emphasizing that his family was present and maintained they saw nothing inappropriate during their visit. Senate Democrats challenged him on inconsistencies with previously stated distances from Epstein, highlighting communications between the two even after Epstein's 2008 conviction, according to Al Jazeera, India Times, and CBS News.

During the hearing, Senator Chris Van Hollen expressed skepticism about Lutnick’s claims, questioning how he could assert he severed ties with Epstein when recent documents revealed ongoing interactions. Lutnick reportedly stated, "I did not have any relationship with him," which lawmakers called into question given the newly uncovered emails and evidence of past interactions. This has intensified scrutiny of his role as Commerce Secretary, as noted by ABC News, CBS News, and Los Angeles Times.

Calls for Lutnick's resignation have escalated from both political parties as legislators contend that his past associations with Epstein present a conflict of interest and raise concerns over integrity. Notably, Congress members have indicated the possibility of further investigation into Lutnick’s connections, as the release of Epstein-related documents progresses under the Epstein Files Transparency Act, according to Reuters, South China Morning Post, and Los Angeles Times.