Trump Commerce Chief Lutnick Grilled Behind Closed Doors Over Secret Epstein Island Trip With Family

According to Mediaite, Comer spoke with reporters on Capitol Hill shortly before Lutnick entered the committee room, acknowledging that the secretarys shifting public narrative about Epstein would be central to the inquiry. Fox News chief congressional correspondent Chad Pergram underscored the stakes, noting that Lutnick went to the island with his family with Mr. Epstein. He didnt seem to cut off his communications with Epstein after his conviction, before asking Comer directly, Are those some of your questions?

Comer did not hesitate to affirm that line of inquiry, responding, Yeah, yeah, yeah. Those are the questions. I think thats the questions everyone would ask. I dont know how many more questions there are. He added that This is something that many of the members wanted to hear from Lutnick, and Ill add hes come in voluntarily. So I appreciate that. Hopefully, well have some more answers. We havent talked to too many people that have admitted theyve been on the island. My understanding is he wasnt on the island very long. He was there with his wife and kids, but well see what he says.

May 06, 2026

Lutnicks credibility is under particular scrutiny because of his own prior statements, including an October 2025 podcast in which he insisted that after meeting Epstein with his wife at Epsteins home, I was never in the room with him socially, for business, or even philanthropy. In that same interview, Lutnick branded Epstein a disgusting person and claimed he and his wife vowed never to see him again, despite living as next-door neighbors.

Those assurances unraveled as subsequent document releases showed Lutnick and Epstein maintained contact both socially and in business dealings, even after Epsteins 2008 conviction in Florida for soliciting prostitution from a minor. Records further indicated that Lutnick traveled with his family to Epsteins private island after that conviction, directly contradicting his earlier portrayal of a clean break.

Pergram pressed the unusual nature of the appearance, remarking, Its pretty extraordinary to bring in a Cabinet secretary or something. Comer agreed, framing the move as a rare but necessary step, saying, Yeah, and look, Ive been on the Oversight Committee 10 years, and theres never been a chairman bring in cabinet secretaries of their own party. We have Lutnick coming in today, we have Pam Bondi coming in in a couple of weeks, so I think people can see that this is a bipartisan investigation. And were really sincerely trying to get the proof. Our goal is to provide justice for the victims and hopefully today will be helpful.

An off-camera reporter later asked whether Lutnicks shifting story had already damaged his standing, querying, Is Secretary Lutnicks credibility undermined here for having said publicly he cut ties in 2005, and Epstein files show that, as recently as 2018, he was in email correspondence with Epstein? Comer answered cautiously but firmly, signaling that transparency would be the ultimate test. What Ive seenwere going to ask him all these questions, and well let the American people judge whether his credibility was damaged or not. At the end of the day, I havent seen wrongdoing in the email correspondence, but he wasnt 100% truthful about whether or not he had been on the island. So well see, and we will obviously release the transcripts, and everyone can see for themselves, he said.

For conservatives who have long demanded full accountability in the Epstein scandal regardless of political affiliation, Comers approach reflects a willingness to scrutinize officials even within President Trumps own Cabinet. With transcripts promised and more witnesses, including Pam Bondi, scheduled to appear, the Oversight Committee is positioning itself as a venue where victims concerns, factual records, and public trust take precedence over partisan protection, leaving Lutnicks testimony to stand or fall on the strength of the evidence.