Commerce Secretary Lutnick to testify before House committee probing Epstein case.

Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick has agreed to voluntarily testify before the House Oversight Committee regarding his connections to the late financier Jeffrey Epstein. This decision comes in response to mounting bipartisan scrutiny following the release of a series of documents by the Justice Department, which indicate that Lutnick maintained communications with Epstein well after he publicly stated he had distanced himself from the convicted sex offender.

Rep. James Comer, the committee’s chairman, expressed appreciation for Lutnick’s willingness to cooperate. He characterized Lutnick’s decision to testify as a commitment to transparency, stating that he looks forward to Lutnick’s forthcoming testimony.

Lutnick’s connections to Epstein have sparked controversy at Haverford College, where he has donated significant resources. The college’s president, Wendy Raymond, is contemplating forming a committee to evaluate whether Lutnick’s name should continue to be associated with the campus library due to these revelations.

The upcoming testimony by Lutnick adds him to the list of several high-profile individuals interviewed by the House Oversight Committee as part of its investigation into Epstein’s activities. Recently, former President Bill Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton provided closed-door depositions, which were marked by intense questioning.

The Department of Commerce has not publicly commented on Lutnick’s impending testimony. However, Lutnick recently reiterated his position, stating he has not engaged in any wrongdoing and is eager to clear the air about his past interactions with Epstein. He previously testified before Congress, claiming that he met with Epstein only three times over a span of 14 years, mentioning a lunch with Epstein in 2012, even after asserting that he had distanced himself from Epstein around 2005.

The documents released by the Justice Department indicate that Lutnick, who is also known as a former chairman of the financial services firm Cantor Fitzgerald, continued to communicate with Epstein years after Epstein pleaded guilty to charges related to soliciting prostitution involving minors. Their last known correspondence occurred in 2018, concerning planning issues related to the Frick Collection, a museum near their residences.

Calls for Lutnick’s resignation have emerged from various lawmakers, including House Oversight Committee members Rep. Robert Garcia and Rep. Thomas Massie. Nonetheless, President Donald Trump has voiced confidence in Lutnick’s abilities, describing him as an “innocent guy” doing commendable work.

Meanwhile, the Oversight Committee has planned additional depositions for Darren Indyke and Richard Kahn, co-executors of Epstein’s estate. Additionally, committee member Rep. Anna Paulina Luna has indicated intentions to summon individuals believed to be co-conspirators involved with Epstein.

In the event that Democrats regain control of the House, Garcia hinted at a robust pursuit for further testimonies, potentially from Trump himself, symbolizing an ongoing commitment to thoroughly investigate the extensive network surrounding Epstein and the individuals connected to him.