House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer (R-KY) signaled on Thursday that it is very possible U.
S. Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick will be compelled to testify before Congress regarding his long-running association with the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
According to Mediaite, Comers remarks came during a press conference in which he defended the committees prior decision to depose former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, insisting that move stemmed from a bipartisan motion rather than a partisan witch hunt. When a reporter pressed him on whether that same bipartisan spirit would extend to Commerce Secretary Lutnick asking, In the spirit of bipartisanship, would you then ask Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick to come testify? It seems like he has some information Comer did not hesitate.
Thats very possible, and I think its a good possibility that his name will arise in some questioning today, Comer replied, before stressing that the committees work is not confined to one party or one administration. He reminded the press, And I want to remind everyone, weve already brought in Alex Acosta and Bill Barr for depositions. Thats two Republicans in the Trump administration, so this isnt just about Democrats.
Comer framed the inquiry as a matter of institutional failure and long-overdue accountability, not partisan score-settling. This is about anyone that has any knowledge of Epstein, the investigation. I think we all agree the government failed, the government failed the victims, and what our role is we cant prosecute anyone, but what we have been doing is getting transparency to the American people, he said, underscoring Congresss oversight duty.
He further noted that the committee has already taken aggressive steps to obtain records that could shed light on Epsteins network and the governments missteps. We subpoenaed the estate. That has nothing to do with the discharge petition. We subpoenaed the documents for the estate, thats what the victims asked us to do, and what youre seeing is there is accountability finally happening, Comer continued, pointing to tangible fallout among the elite.
Youve seen at least a dozen very powerful people, men and women, who have already resigned, many in disgrace, from their board positions, he added, arguing that public exposure is beginning to have consequences. So were seeing accountability, but we have a desire to see a lot more accountability. We want to get the answers and hopefully the next two days will be a step in the right direction.
Lutnick, meanwhile, has faced intensifying scrutiny after acknowledging in a Senate hearing this month that his dealings with Epstein were far more extensive than he had previously let on. While he had suggested as recently as October that he severed ties with Epstein in 2005, evidence now shows he maintained contact for years afterward, raising serious questions about his candor and judgment.
In a revelation that has particularly alarmed critics, Lutnick admitted that he even took his children to Epsteins notorious private island, Little Saint James widely derided as pedophile island for lunch in 2012. That decision, made long after Epsteins criminal conduct was public knowledge, has fueled calls from conservatives for a full accounting of Lutnicks actions and his suitability for high office.
CBS News reported this month that Lutnick and Epstein were still engaged in business together as late as 2014, contradicting the narrative that their relationship had ended nearly a decade earlier. Such reporting has only deepened concerns that a senior cabinet official may have misled both lawmakers and the American public about his ties to a convicted predator.
Conservative commentator Megyn Kelly delivered a blistering critique of Lutnick last week, accusing the commerce secretary of lying to our faces about his Epstein connections. This is supposed to be a more transparent administration, and what President Trump doesnt need is a liar in the position of commerce secretary, about something as serious as your connections with Jeffrey Epstein, and it was such a bold-faced lie, she said, highlighting the political and moral stakes.
Kelly emphasized the gravity of Lutnicks conduct, noting that his relationship with Epstein went far beyond a casual acquaintance. Like, not only was he in a room with him, he went to the guys island! He started a business with him, reports CBS! I mean, about as bold as you could get, she argued, framing the episode as a direct affront to public trust.
Kelly concluded, He owes the rest of us an apology for lying to our faces. Her remarks reflect a broader conservative frustration with elites who appear to evade accountability while lecturing the country on ethics and transparency.
Politico reported on Thursday that Lutnick is now in hot water with President Donald Trump, who is said to be concerned about how much Lutnicks family has been profiting off their association with the presidents brand. As Comers committee weighs whether to summon Lutnick and more details emerge about his Epstein ties, pressure is mounting from the right for a thorough, unflinching investigation that puts victims and truth ahead of political convenience.
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