Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick agreed to an interview with the House Oversight Committee regarding his past ties with convicted sex-offender Jeffrey Epstein, the committee chairman confirmed Tuesday.
Republican Kentucky Rep. James Comer confirmed Lutnick “proactively agreed to appear voluntarily” before the committee to discuss his connection to Epstein. (RELATED: Nancy Mace And Hillary Clinton Clash Over Howard Lutnick In Fiery Epstein Oversight Deposition)
“I commend his demonstrated commitment to transparency and appreciate his willingness to engage with the committee,” Comer said. “I look forward to his testimony.”
Axios first reported the news.
Lutnick was Epstein’s neighbor, Axios reported. The commerce secretary faced scrutiny after the Department of Justice (DOJ) released millions of files about the New York financier, and his name appeared in the emails.
Secretary Lutnick has proactively agreed to appear voluntarily before the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform. I commend his demonstrated commitment to transparency and appreciate his willingness to engage with the Committee. I look forward to his testimony. https://t.co/O5s5Pz8pdl
— Rep. James Comer (@RepJamesComer) March 3, 2026
“I look forward to appearing before the committee,” Lutnick told Axios. “I have done nothing wrong, and I want to set the record straight.”
White House spokesman Kush Desai told Axios that Lutnick “continues to be a critical asset for President Trump, having played a key role in securing major trade and investment deals. The entire Trump administration, including Secretary Lutnick, remains focused on delivering more wins for the American people.”
The secretary has not been accused of wrongdoing, the outlet noted.
Lutnick previously said on a New York Post podcast that he decided he “would never be in the room with that disgusting person ever again” after Epstein showed him a massage room where the convicted sex-offender said he receives “the right kind of massage” every day.
He and his wife visited the room after they moved next door to Epstein in 2005, the outlet reported.
DOJ files released after the podcast interview show Lutnick corresponded with Epstein in 2012 about lunch plans and visiting Epstein’s Caribbean compound. He told the New York Times (NYT) in January that he “spent zero time with [Epstein].”
Lutnick told the Senate Appropriations Committee in February that he did not recall why he visited in 2012, according to The Hill.
The transcript of the interview will be released following review by Lutnick’s attorney, according to Axios, which is standard committee protocol.