Full Breakdown
Howard Lutnick Testifies on Jeffrey Epstein Ties Before House Oversight Committee
5/14/2026, 5:34:51 AM
Testimony Overview: Encounters with Jeffrey Epstein
Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick testified before the House Oversight Committee on May 6. He confirmed three encounters with Jeffrey Epstein: a 2005 tour of Epstein’s Manhattan townhouse where he saw a massage table and heard a remark about “the right kind of massage”; a brief 2011 discussion about a neighborhood construction dispute; and a 2012 family lunch on Epstein’s Little Saint James island, which he called “unsettling” after Epstein’s staff arranged the visit despite his lack of knowledge of how they learned of his vacation plans. Lutnick said the massage-table comment seemed sexual in nature.
Official Statements & Responses
Committee Chairman James Comer said Lutnick’s contacts with Epstein were limited to three occasions and praised his transparency. The committee framed the testimony as part of an inquiry into Epstein’s network, with upcoming depositions for former President Bill Clinton, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, and Bill Gates.
Criticism & Opposition
Lawmakers noted a discrepancy between Lutnick’s 2023 claim of being “one and done” with Epstein and the 2012 island lunch. They said his earlier responses were not fully truthful, questioning the completeness of his disclosures about his relationship with Epstein.
Verbatim Quotes
- “If you said chitchat, I’d go with that,” Lutnick said. “‘Discussed’ sounds like there was like a discussion, which I don’t think there was.” — Howard Lutnick, Commerce Secretary
- “I asked him why he had a massage table in the middle of his house,” Lutnick responded. “And he said — my best recollection is, he said, ‘Every day and the right kind of massage.’” — Howard Lutnick
- “That it would become, in some form, sexual in nature.” — Howard Lutnick
- “There’s only so many questions you can ask Howard Lutnick, who lived, had a property next door to Epstein in New York, talked to him three times over a decade,” — James Comer, Committee Chairman
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
The transcript shows Lutnick recalling no discussion during the island visit, yet he confirmed a family lunch arranged by Epstein’s staff. His 2023 statement that he was “one and done” with Epstein conflicts with evidence of three encounters, and DOJ-released emails contradict his claim of having cut all ties.
Why It Matters
The testimony adds to congressional scrutiny of high-profile individuals linked to Epstein, highlighting concerns about the adequacy of disclosures by senior officials and the potential influence of undisclosed networks on policy and business decisions.
What’s Next
The committee scheduled interviews with prison guard Tova Noel (May 19) and former Attorney General Pam Bondi (May 29). Additional depositions are planned for Bill Gates, former President Bill Clinton, and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton to map Epstein’s connections.
