Commerce Secretary Lutnick Faces Bipartisan Resignation Calls After Records Reveal Undisclosed Epstein Ties

2026-02-09 politics

Washington D.C., Tuesday, 10 February 2026.
Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick’s position is increasingly tenuous as Republican Representative Thomas Massie joins Democrats in demanding his resignation. The controversy stems from newly released Department of Justice documents that directly contradict Lutnick’s previous assertions that he severed all ties with Jeffrey Epstein in 2005. The most damaging revelation indicates that Lutnick not only maintained contact through 2018 but also arranged a family trip to Epstein’s private island, Little St. James, in December 2012—years after Epstein’s first conviction. While the White House maintains its support, citing the administration’s economic focus, the bipartisan nature of these demands suggests a significant political liability. This developing situation casts uncertainty over the Commerce Department’s leadership at a critical juncture for U.S. trade policy.

The Discrepancy in Disclosures

The central issue fueling the calls for Secretary Lutnick’s resignation is the stark contrast between his public testimony and the contents of the Justice Department files released on February 2, 2026 [2][5]. While the Commerce Department has maintained that Lutnick and his wife met Jeffrey Epstein in 2005 and had “limited interactions” over the subsequent 14 years, the newly released records paint a picture of sustained engagement [3][5]. Specifically, email correspondence reveals that Lutnick maintained contact with Epstein as recently as 2018, a full decade after Epstein’s 2008 conviction for soliciting prostitution [3][5]. The documents detail specific social and business overtures, including a scheduled drink meeting on May 1, 2011, and a request from Lutnick in November 2015 inviting Epstein to a fundraiser for Hillary Clinton [2][3]. Furthermore, in May 2018, Lutnick sought Epstein’s advice regarding a renovation of the Frick Collection, suggesting a reliance on Epstein’s input long after the Secretary claimed to have distanced himself [2].

Financial Ties and Island Visits

Beyond social correspondence, the records indicate a deeper entanglement involving travel and shared financial interests. The most scrutinized revelation involves a December 2012 trip where Lutnick and his family arranged to visit Epstein’s private island, Little St. James [3][6]. In an email dated December 19, 2012, Lutnick inquired about the “exact location for my captain” to facilitate a dinner meeting, to which Epstein replied with directions to the island behind Christmas Cove [2]. Coinciding with this trip, records show that in late 2012, both Lutnick and Epstein invested in the same business venture, AdFin, establishing a direct economic link between the two men [3][5]. Additionally, in 2013, Epstein obtained the résumé of Lutnick’s nanny, further evidencing a familiarity that contradicts Lutnick’s assertion that he was “never in the room with him socially, for business or even philanthropy” after the mid-2000s [3][8].

A Bipartisan Chorus of Disapproval

While Democratic opposition was expected, the involvement of Republican Representative Thomas Massie has significantly altered the political landscape surrounding Lutnick’s tenure. On February 8, 2026, Massie publicly called for Lutnick to resign, stating that the Secretary “clearly went to the island if we believe what’s in these files” and noting that these interactions occurred years after Epstein’s criminal conviction [2][3]. Massie, who is a main sponsor of the legislation mandating the release of these unredacted files, argued that Lutnick should “make life easier on the president, frankly, and just resign,” adding that in a parliamentary system like Great Britain’s, Lutnick would “already be gone” [6]. Today, February 10, 2026, Massie and Representative Ro Khanna are scheduled to visit the Justice Department to view further unredacted documents, a move that could precipitate additional disclosures [3].

Administration Response and Political Fallout

Despite the mounting evidence and bipartisan criticism, the White House has thus far stood by the Commerce Secretary. Spokesman Kush Desai stated that the administration remains focused on “delivering for the American people” and described President Trump’s team as the “best and most transformative cabinet in modern history” [3]. However, President Trump appeared to distance himself slightly on February 7, 2026, claiming he was unaware of Lutnick’s presence in the Epstein files [8]. The political friction is further complicated by internal GOP dynamics; reports indicate that President Trump is backing a primary opponent against Representative Massie, who has been a vocal critic regarding the transparency of these files [6]. As House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer briefs reporters following a closed-circuit deposition with Ghislaine Maxwell on February 9, 2026, the administration faces a critical challenge in balancing its economic agenda against the reputational risks posed by its Commerce Secretary’s past associations [3].

Sources

Cabinet resignation Political scandal