Bipartisan pressure is mounting on Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick to resign following the release of explosive new documents. Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., and Rep. Robert Garcia, D-Calif., both called for Lutnick's departure on Monday. The calls come after Department of Justice files linked Lutnick to business deals with Jeffrey Epstein years after Epstein’s 2008 sex crimes conviction.
The recently released files suggest Lutnick and Epstein acquired stakes together in a technology firm called Adfin in 2012. Lutnick appears as a "signatory" on the contract, while Epstein is listed as a "preferred holder." This business partnership directly contradicts Lutnick’s previous claims that he cut ties with the disgraced financier in 2005.
"It’s now clear that Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick has been lying about his relationship with Epstein," Garcia said in a post to X. "Lutnick must resign or be fired. And he must answer our questions."
Massie echoed these sentiments during a Sunday interview on CNN. He noted that even members of the British royal family have faced greater consequences for lesser ties. "Prince [Andrew] lost his title for less than what we’ve seen Howard Lutnick lie about," Massie stated.
Other documents in the trove suggest Lutnick may have even visited Epstein’s private island in the Virgin Islands. Emails from November 2012 show Epstein’s assistant reaching out to Lutnick to arrange a meeting during the holidays. Massie argued that if the files are accurate, Lutnick "clearly went to the island" and has much to answer for.
The Department of Commerce has dismissed the calls for resignation as a distraction. A spokesperson framed the controversy as a "failing attempt by the legacy media" to overshadow the administration’s trade and investment wins. They maintained that Lutnick had only "limited interactions" with Epstein over a 14-year period.
House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer has not yet said if the committee will formally question Lutnick. However, the committee is already investigating the government's handling of the Epstein case. These new revelations could lead to subpoenas for the Commerce Secretary in the coming weeks.