Commerce Secretary Lutnick’s Hidden Correspondence with Jeffrey Epstein Revealed in DOJ Documents
Newly released Department of Justice documents reveal a previously undisclosed series of communications between Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein in 2011 and 2012, contradicting Lutnick’s prior statements about severing ties with Epstein. The correspondence occurred years after Lutnick publicly vowed to avoid Epstein following a disturbing encounter.
The documents, released Friday, paint a picture of a more enduring relationship between Lutnick – former chairman of Cantor Fitzgerald – and Epstein than previously acknowledged. The two men were once neighbors in New York City, a connection that seemingly faded after a 2005 visit to Epstein’s home left Lutnick deeply unsettled.
In an interview last year, Lutnick stated he was so disturbed by the 2005 encounter that he declared he “will never be in the room with that disgusting person ever again.” He further elaborated, “So I was never in the room with him socially, for business — or even philanthropy,” adding, “That guy was there, I wasn’t going, ‘cause he’s gross.”
However, the newly released records directly challenge this assertion. They demonstrate that Lutnick actively sought contact with Epstein on multiple occasions after 2005, even after Epstein pleaded guilty in 2008 to procuring a minor for prostitution.
Responding to inquiries, a Commerce Department spokesperson stated: “Secretary Lutnick had limited interactions with Mr. Epstein in the presence of his wife and has never been accused of wrongdoing.”
The evidence suggests otherwise. Emails from 2011 show Epstein’s assistant informing him that “Howard Lutnick returned your call,” and later that same day, “Howard Lutnick will come see you at 5 p.m.” An alarm message from that year simply read: “Drinks w/Howard Lutnick.”
The following year, the interactions escalated. Emails reveal that both Lutnick’s wife, Allison Lutnick, and his assistant engaged with Epstein’s staff to arrange a visit and lunch on one of Epstein’s private Caribbean islands.
On November 20, 2012, Epstein’s assistant wrote to Lutnick: “Jeffrey Epstein understands you will be down in St. Thomas some over the holidays,” and added, “Jeffrey requested I please pass along some phone numbers to you so the two of you can possibly get together.”
A month later, Allison Lutnick emailed Epstein, stating, “We are looking forward to visiting you,” and noted that the Lutnicks would be traveling as part of a larger group with another family. She continued, “We are heading towards you from St. Thomas. Where should we anchor exactly?” Epstein’s representatives then inquired about the size of the Lutnicks’ vessel to facilitate proper coordination. Allison Lutnick responded succinctly: “188 foot yacht.”
These communications raise serious questions about the extent of Lutnick’s relationship with Epstein and the accuracy of his previous public statements. The details, revealed through the DOJ’s release, underscore the complexities and potential contradictions surrounding interactions with Epstein, even by prominent public figures.
