FALLOUT: Commerce Sec. Howard Lutnick faces ‘bipartisan’ calls to resign over latest Epstein revelations

February 9, 2026

From Politico: Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick is facing bipartisan calls to resign after he appeared in a recent batch of files linked to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

Sen. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) accused Lutnick in a statement Monday of having “lied” about the extent of his connection to Epstein. Lutnick has sought to downplay their relationship, saying in a podcast appearance last year he vowed in 2005 to never again be in the same room as Epstein.

But files recently released by the Justice Department suggest he continued his interactions with Epstein, including planning a visit several years later to Epstein’s Caribbean island.

“Lutnick’s lies about his business dealings with a convicted child sex offender, raise serious concerns about his judgement and ethics,” Schiff said. “Lutnick has no business being our Commerce Secretary, and he should resign immediately.”

More from Fox News: Files released by the DOJ suggest that Lutnick and Epstein bought stakes together in a technology company called Adfin in 2012. Lutnick, who is listed among nine other investors, appears as a “signatory” alongside Epstein, who is named as a “preferred holder.”

Notably, the purchase is dated four years after Epstein was convicted in 2008 for sexual abuse involving a 14-year-old girl.

The Hill explained: The two were neighbors in New York and frequented similar social scenes during their time in the state, which led to Lutnick being mentioned over 250 times in the Epstein files.

NOTE: There are no known allegations against Lutnick of him having ANY role in Epstein’s trafficking activities.

Below is a video of Lutnick’s explanation of how he and his wife were appalled at what they saw when they once visited Epstein’s home.

Last year, Lutnick said in an interview that he visited Epstein’s home around 2005 and was so troubled by what he saw that he decided never to associate with him again.

“So I was never in the room with him socially, for business, or even philanthropy.”

2/6 pic.twitter.com/af9eeQyKnm

— Mike Baker (@ByMikeBaker) January 30, 2026

“Secretary Howard Lutnick lied to the country about his ties to Epstein. Now we learned that they were in business together. He has no business being our Commerce Secretary. He should resign,” Schiff sneered in a post on Monday.

Secretary Howard Lutnick lied to the country about his ties to Epstein.

Now we learned that they were in business together.

He has no business being our Commerce Secretary.

He should resign.

— Adam Schiff (@SenAdamSchiff) February 9, 2026

Democrat Rep. Robert Garcia (Calif.) claimed Sunday in a post on X, “It’s now clear that Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick has been lying about his relationship with Epstein. He said he had no interactions with Epstein after 2005, yet we now know they were in business together. Lutnick must resign or be fired. And he must answer our questions.”

It’s now clear that Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick has been lying about his relationship with Epstein. He said he had no interactions with Epstein after 2005, yet we now know they were in business together.

Lutnick must resign or be fired. And he must answer our questions.

— Congressman Robert Garcia (@RepRobertGarcia) February 8, 2026

Republican Rep. Thomas Massie (Ky.) joined Democrats in calling out Lutnick. Massie wrote on Monday, “Lutnick went to the island and was in business deals with Epstein, long after Lutnick says he parted ways and even after Epstein was convicted of sex crimes. What else is Lutnick covering up with respect to his association with Epstein?”

and there’s this troubling message… https://t.co/bzyLONCufq

— Thomas Massie (@RepThomasMassie) February 9, 2026

Massie also slammed Lutnick on Saturday, writing, “According to legal documents and emails, Epstein and Lutnick did business together and Lutnick vacationed on Epstein’s island, LONG AFTER Lutnick claims they parted ways and after LONG AFTER Epstein was a known sex offender.”

According to legal documents and emails, Epstein and Lutnick did business together and Lutnick vacationed on Epstein’s island,

LONG AFTER Lutnick claims they parted ways and after LONG AFTER Epstein was a known sex offender. https://t.co/hxL9HVgqcy

— Thomas Massie (@RepThomasMassie) February 7, 2026

In an interview with CNN over the weekend, Massie claimed Lutnick should just resign.

Massie on Howard Lutnick: “He should just resign. Three people in Great Britain resigned for less than what we’ve seen Howard Lutnick lie about. He clearly went to the island, if we believe what’s in these files. He was in business with Jeffrey Epstein.” pic.twitter.com/0Lj7j9li6a

— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) February 8, 2026