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

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.