GOP lawmaker demands Commerce Secretary’s resignation for lying about Jeffrey Epstein ties

Thomas Massie, a leading Republican voice, is demanding the immediate resignation of Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick following revelations about the secretary’s connections to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. This controversy is the latest political flashpoint stemming from the massive Epstein document dump. 

Massie, who has been pushing hard for the release of these files, stated flatly that Lutnick should step down. When asked if the secretary should instead testify before Congress, Massie was clear. He said, “No, he should just resign,” to “make life easier on the president” because Lutnick has a lot to answer for. Massie observed that the files suggested that Lutnick was “in business” with Epstein long after Epstein was convicted for sexual crimes. ”

This sentiment is shared by many. According to Newsweek, California Democrat Representative Ted Lieu agreed with Massie. Lieu wrote that the secretary “must resign” because he is “despicable for vacationing on Epstein Island with child rapist Jeffrey Epstein.” Lieu also charged that Lutnick is “despicable for going on national TV and lying about his relationship with Epstein.”

Those are strong accusations

Lutnick had previously told a publication last year that he cut ties with Epstein way back in 2005, vowing he would “never be in the room with that disgusting person ever again.” However, the newly released documents show Lutnick’s name appearing in more than 250 documents related to Epstein. While the files don’t show any wrongdoing or a particularly close friendship, they certainly indicate they ran in similar social circles as neighbors, detailing visits and trips. 

The files also detail discussions around business, real estate transactions, and even political fundraising. In November 2015, Lutnick invited Epstein to a fundraising event for former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s 2016 presidential campaign. In 2018, they were still communicating through assistants about construction plans for a nearby museum that Lutnick worried would block their park views.

The Commerce Department isn’t taking this lying down. A spokesperson stated that Lutnick had “limited interactions with Mr. Epstein in the presence of his wife and has never been accused of wrongdoing.” Furthermore, a department spokesperson told a publication that the entire controversy is “nothing more than a failing attempt by the legacy media to distract from the administration’s accomplishments.”

The release of these files has created a major political firestorm around the world. In Great Britain, former Prince Andrew has been receiving pressure to testify, while a former minister in France and his daughter have also been asked to resign. When speaking about Lutnick, Massie noted, “If this was Great Britain, he’d already be gone.”