Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick testified in a closed-door session before the House Oversight Committee on Wednesday that he could not recall why he and his family had lunch on Jeffrey Epstein's private island in 2012. The voluntary interview, part of the committee's probe into the federal handling of Epstein's case, lasted several hours.

Lutnick, former CEO of Cantor Fitzgerald, previously described the 2005 tour of Epstein's Manhattan townhouse, where they were neighbors on the Upper East Side, as disturbing due to a massage table and suggestive comments, vowing never to be in a room with him again. He reiterated this in a 2025 podcast, calling Epstein a "disgusting person" and the "greatest blackmailer ever." However, Justice Department files released in January 2026 revealed continued contacts, including the 2012 island visit.

During a February Senate Appropriations subcommittee hearing, Lutnick first acknowledged the lunch, stating his family, including wife Allison, four young children, nannies, and another family, sailed by yacht from a nearby boat during a Virgin Islands vacation. He said the two-hour meal involved nothing "untoward," but even then did not recall the reason for accepting Epstein's invitation, which came after his assistant learned of their location. Photos from the files confirm the family's presence on Little St. James.

In Wednesday's testimony, Democratic Rep. Suhas Subramanyam said members repeatedly asked why Lutnick went, but he replied it was "inexplicable" and he "didn't know how to answer." Lutnick outlined three total meetings: the 2005 tour, the 2012 lunch, and a discussion on construction affecting his home. Files also show sporadic emails through 2018 on business like AdFin investments, a 2013 nanny resume, a 2015 Clinton fundraiser invite, and a 2017 charity donation.

Reactions split along party lines. Chair James Comer, R-Ky., called Lutnick "transparent," noting he corrected prior island claims in his opening statement and appeared voluntarily; he warned any congressional lies constitute a felony. Comer had remarked beforehand that Lutnick was not previously "100% truthful" on the visit. Democrats, including Reps. Ro Khanna, Yassamin Ansari, and James Walkinshaw labeled the testimony evasive, nervous, and dishonest, with Khanna saying President Trump "would have fired" him.

Epstein, who pleaded guilty to 2008 state prostitution charges and faced 2019 federal sex-trafficking charges, died by suicide in jail. The Oversight probe examines government handling of his case, with more witnesses like Bill Gates scheduled.