Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick may be compelled to testify before Congress after alleging that Jeffrey Epstein leveraged blackmail to secure a lenient plea deal involving compromising footage. The comments have drawn significant attention from lawmakers, particularly Rep. Robert Garcia, the leading Democrat on the House Oversight Committee, who expressed strong support for a potential subpoena.
In a recent interview on CNN’s OutFront with Erin Burnett, Garcia highlighted the need for transparency regarding the Epstein case, especially in light of Lutnick’s extraordinary claims about Epstein’s methods of entrapment. “Those were some incredible comments,” Garcia stated. “We need to get the full files released by the DOJ and the Trump administration.” He emphasized the importance of understanding Lutnick’s sources for these theories and the implications they may have on the ongoing investigation.
Lutnick, who was a neighbor of Epstein before the latter’s criminal activities became widely known, shared his insights during an appearance on the New York Post’s Pod Force One podcast. He recounted a visit to Epstein’s Manhattan townhouse, where a massage table stood prominently. Lutnick recounted Epstein’s questionable remark regarding his daily massages. He speculated that many of Epstein’s affluent associates might have experienced similar treatments, supposedly recorded for potential blackmail.
“Get a massage, get a massage,” Lutnick recounted Epstein’s approach. He posited that it could explain how Epstein maintained financial control and ultimately secured a controversial 2008 plea deal that resulted in much lighter charges than the serious offenses he was accused of. Instead of tackling federal sex trafficking charges, Epstein pleaded guilty to lesser state-insulting charges, resulting in an 18-month sentence, from which he was released after just 13 months.
Lutnick raised concerns about the leniency of Epstein’s punishment, suggesting a possible “trade” for videos involving powerful individuals: “There must have been a trade,” he asserted, speculating the existence of videos that could have implicated other high-profile figures.
These remarks, however, clash with the conclusions of the DOJ and FBI, which have stated there is “no credible evidence” supporting claims of Epstein blackmailing influential figures or maintaining a so-called “client list.” FBI Director Kash Patel also testified that no credible information indicates that Epstein trafficked individuals to anyone but himself, a position that has encountered widespread skepticism.
Garcia’s commitment to pursuing a subpoena for Lutnick underlines the ongoing interest and scrutiny surrounding Epstein’s actions and the potential implications for various individuals linked to him. With congressional discussions gaining momentum, the focus remains on unveiling the full scope of Epstein’s operations and the ramifications they might hold for those involved.