Commerce Secretary Lutnick Addresses Epstein Files Amid Ongoing Scrutiny
Washington, D.C. — United States Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick addressed the growing public interest in the recently unsealed Jeffrey Epstein documents, stating that he, like many Americans, has personally reviewed the extensive cache of files.
“I’ve looked through the millions of documents for my name just like everybody else,” Lutnick said in a recent statement regarding the massive release of court exhibits and records.
The comment comes as the Department of Justice and federal courts continue to release waves of previously sealed documents related to the late financier and convicted sex offender. The latest tranche, released earlier this month, comprises approximately 3.5 million pages of emails, flight logs, and photos, reigniting public scrutiny over Epstein’s network of high-profile associates.
Lutnick, who was confirmed as Commerce Secretary in February 2025, has faced renewed questions regarding his past interactions with Epstein. While Lutnick previously stated he had “limited interactions” with the financier and “spent zero time with him” following a brief meeting in the early 2000s, the newly released files have complicated that narrative. Documents from the release appear to show email correspondence between Lutnick’s office and Epstein’s assistants in 2012, as well as logistical arrangements for a visit to Epstein’s private island, Little St. James, during a holiday trip.
The Commerce Secretary’s latest remark highlights the sheer volume of the data dump, which has spurred a global effort by journalists and online sleuths to index names and cross-reference dates. Lutnick’s acknowledgment that he is searching the files himself suggests an awareness of the intense public auditing currently underway.
Critics have pointed to the 2012 emails as a contradiction to Lutnick’s earlier denials of a continued relationship. When reached for comment by The New York Times immediately following the initial release of the files in late January, Lutnick briefly reiterated his denial before ending the call. His new statement appears to be a shift toward addressing the existence of the documents more directly, though he did not elaborate on whether his review of the files had yielded any specific findings he wished to contextualize.
The Department of Commerce has not yet issued a formal press release clarifying the nature of the 2012 trip detailed in the files. However, sources close to the administration suggest officials are monitoring the releases closely as the “Epstein list” continues to dominate the news cycle.
Lutnick is one of several high-ranking officials and business leaders named in the sprawling archive, which spans decades of Epstein’s social and financial dealings. As the public continues to comb through the “millions of documents” Lutnick referenced, the pressure remains on public figures to clarify the depth and nature of their ties to the disgraced financier.
* cbsnews.com
