Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick Planned 2012 Visit to Epstein Island, Files Show
DOJ files released Jan. 30, 2026 show Lutnick arranged to visit Jeffrey Epstein's private island in December 2012.
Overview
Department of Justice files released Jan. 30, 2026 show Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick arranged to visit Jeffrey Epstein’s private island Little St. James in December 2012 and emails suggest lunch occurred on Dec. 23, 2012.
The planned visit would have come after Epstein pleaded guilty in 2008 to two prostitution-related charges, including with a minor, and takes on new relevance because Lutnick now serves as U.S. Commerce Secretary.
A Department of Commerce spokesperson said Jan. 30, 2026 that Lutnick had "limited interactions" with Epstein in his wife's presence and "has never been accused of wrongdoing," according to the statement.
The files include emails dated Dec. 19, 20, 21, 23 and 24, 2012 showing coordination about a visit and a Nov. 3, 2015 invitation that referenced a Nov. 11, 2015 fundraiser for Hillary Clinton.
Howard Lutnick said in October 2025 "I spent zero time with him" and declined to comment on the newly released files Jan. 30, 2026, while documents do not show allegations linking him to criminal conduct.
Analysis
Center-leaning sources lean into an investigatory, reputational frame by foregrounding Epstein's convictions and sensational correspondence, privileging documents that imply proximity to powerful figures. Editorial choices—phrases like "so-called 'sweetheart deal'", structural emphasis on dinner arrangements, and selective detail on "private time" references—accentuate suspicion while still noting denials.
Sources (3)
FAQ
DOJ files released Jan. 30, 2026, show Lutnick arranged a visit to Little St. James in December 2012, with emails on Dec. 19-24 coordinating it, suggesting lunch occurred on Dec. 23.
History
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