Trump's Commerce Secretary Faces Bipartisan Calls to Resign Over Epstein Ties

Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick sat before a Senate panel on February 10th, admitting what he'd spent months denying: he had lunch with Jeffrey Epstein on the convicted sex offender's private island in 2012. The admission came after newly released Justice Department documents revealed extensive communications between the two men, directly contradicting Lutnick's previous claims that he barely knew Epstein.

What Happened

The controversy exploded after the Department of Justice released over 3 million additional pages of Epstein files on January 30, 2026, bringing the total to nearly 3.5 million pages. The documents show that Lutnick, who lived next door to Epstein for over a decade on Manhattan's Upper East Side, maintained contact with the financier as recently as 2018—years after Epstein pleaded guilty to sex crimes including soliciting prostitution from a minor.

This directly contradicted Lutnick's October 2024 podcast appearance, where he claimed: "I was never in the room with him socially, for business or even philanthropy. If that guy was there, I wasn't going because he's gross."

The files revealed a much deeper relationship. In 2012, Lutnick and Epstein signed a business deal to invest together in AdFin Solutions Inc., a technology company. In 2015, Lutnick appeared to invite Epstein to a Hillary Clinton fundraising event. In 2017, Epstein donated $50,000 to a New York charity in honor of Lutnick.

Bipartisan calls for resignation quickly followed. Republican Rep. Thomas Massie, co-author of the Epstein Files Transparency Act, said bluntly: "He should just resign. He should make life easier on the president, frankly, and just resign."

Democratic Rep. Robert Garcia, ranking Democrat on the House Oversight Committee, declared "Lutnick must resign or be fired." Sen. Adam Schiff was more direct: "Howard Lutnick lied to the American people about his ties to Jeffrey Epstein."

During his Senate testimony, Lutnick finally acknowledged visiting Epstein's island during a 2012 family vacation. "My wife was with me, as were my four children and nannies," he said. "We had lunch on the island, that is true, for an hour."

Why It Matters

This isn't just another political scandal—it's a test of accountability in the post-Epstein era. Lutnick is the highest-profile U.S. official to face bipartisan calls for resignation amid revelations from the Epstein files, raising questions about what consequences look like for American elites connected to the convicted sex trafficker.

The international contrast is stark. As Rep. Massie noted: "If this were Great Britain, he'd already be gone," referencing how Prince Andrew was stripped of titles and Peter Mandelson was fired following Epstein disclosures in the UK.

The controversy also highlights the power of transparency legislation. The Epstein Files Transparency Act, passed by Congress and signed by Trump in November 2025, required the Justice Department to make all Epstein prosecution files publicly searchable within 30 days. The law is already producing political casualties.

"It just causes me to question the credibility and the integrity of the individual, they've lied," said Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), reflecting growing Republican unease with Lutnick's changing story.

Even some Republicans are breaking ranks. Sen. Roger Wicker called the island visit something that "would raise questions," while Sen. Thom Tillis described it as "something I'm concerned with."

The White House, however, is standing firm. Press secretary Karoline Leavitt said "Secretary Lutnick remains a very important member of President Trump's team, and the president fully supports the secretary."

What's Next

Lutnick's fate now depends on whether Trump decides the political cost is too high. With recent polling showing 56% of Americans disapproving of Trump's handling of the Epstein files, and 49% believing Trump is attempting to cover up Epstein's crimes, the controversy could have broader implications for the administration.

Sen. Jacky Rosen became the first member of the Senate Commerce Committee to call for Lutnick's resignation, potentially complicating future budget hearings and legislative priorities.

The Justice Department continues processing the massive trove of Epstein documents, meaning more revelations could emerge. With 3.5 million pages now public and lawmakers calling for accountability, other officials connected to Epstein may find themselves under similar scrutiny.

The broader question remains: Will American political culture finally demand the same level of accountability for Epstein connections that other democracies have imposed?

For now, Lutnick is clinging to his position, insisting he "did absolutely nothing wrong." But in Washington, survival often depends less on guilt or innocence than on political utility—and the calculus is shifting fast.