Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick appeared before the House Oversight Committee on Wednesday for a closed-door hearing focused on his prior interactions with Jeffrey Epstein, a convicted sex offender who died in 2019. The session lasted nearly four hours, according to the Washington Examiner.
During the hearing, Lutnick told committee members that he had met Epstein only three times, Fox News reported. He also stated that he could not recall the reason he and his family had lunch on Epstein’s private island, Newsmax reported. The lunch visit was a subject of questioning by the committee.
After the testimony, Democratic members voiced strong objections. One Democrat, speaking to Fox News, called Lutnick a “pathological liar.” Democrats also accused the commerce secretary of stonewalling questions and said he had lost credibility. The name of the lawmaker who used the phrase was not provided in the reports.
The hearing was covered by multiple news outlets. CBS News congressional correspondent Nikole Killion reported that Lutnick was on Capitol Hill to address his relationship with Epstein. The Washington Examiner highlighted the nearly four-hour length of the session, while Newsmax detailed the exchange about the island lunch. Fox News reported the Democratic reaction, including the direct quote.
Because the session was closed to the public, details emerged only through lawmakers’ statements and subsequent media accounts. No official transcript or summary was immediately released. The Commerce Department did not issue a public statement following the testimony.
The House Oversight Committee has been conducting various inquiries, and this testimony was part of its oversight responsibilities. Further information about the specific questions asked or the full scope of Lutnick’s answers remains unavailable.
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