U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick sits to testify earlier than the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science, and Associated Businesses listening to to look at a assessment of broadband deployment funding on the Division of Commerce, on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., U.S., February 10, 2026.
Elizabeth Frantz | Reuters
Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick has voluntarily agreed to testify earlier than the Home Oversight Committee about his ties to notorious intercourse offender Jeffrey Epstein, Republican Rep. James Comer of Kentucky stated Tuesday.
“I commend his demonstrated dedication to transparency and recognize his willingness to interact with the Committee,” Comer, the chairman of the oversight panel, stated in an X publish that confirmed an earlier Axios report. “I sit up for his testimony.”
Lutnick has not been accused of wrongdoing however has however confronted mounting bipartisan stress to clarify connections which have lately emerged between him and Epstein, his former next-door neighbor.
In Senate testimony final month when he appeared earlier than the Senate Appropriations Committee, Lutnick admitted visiting Epstein’s infamous personal island along with his household and nannies in 2012 — years after he beforehand claimed he had reduce off contact with the late cash supervisor.
On Friday, Rep. Nancy Mace, R-S.C., known as the Cupboard secretary to take questions from the Oversight Committee in response to a photograph that appeared to indicate Lutnick standing subsequent to Epstein.
That picture, which surfaced as a part of the Division of Justice’s launch of thousands and thousands of Epstein-related information, was reportedly eliminated from the DOJ web site earlier than being reposted.
Mace, a member of the oversight panel, stated in an X publish Tuesday afternoon that she’s going to subpoena Lutnick on Wednesday to seem earlier than the committee.
“He has inquiries to reply about his relationship with Jeffrey Epstein,” Mace stated within the publish, which included the picture of the 2 males and the textual content of an electronic mail showing to indicate Lutnick’s go to to Epstein’s island being scheduled.
Mace adopted up on X, thanking Lutnick for agreeing to testify.
“I sit up for showing earlier than the committee. I’ve accomplished nothing mistaken, and I need to set the file straight,” Lutnick advised Axios.
The White Home advised CNBC in a press release that Lutnick “continues to be a important asset” for President Donald Trump, “having performed a key position in securing main commerce and funding offers.”
“Your entire Trump administration, together with Secretary Lutnick, stay centered on delivering extra wins for the American folks,” White Home spokesman Kush Desai stated within the assertion.
It was not instantly clear when Lutnick would seem earlier than the committee. Axios reported that the interview would happen behind closed doorways within the coming weeks.
Interviews performed in personal can later be shared publicly. Movies of congressional interviews with former President Invoice Clinton, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and retail magnate Leslie Wexner have been later launched in full.
The Commerce Division, and the Oversight Committee’s Democratic minority, didn’t instantly reply to CNBC’s requests for touch upon Lutnick’s forthcoming testimony.
