PoliticsAnother Lie? Photo of Howard Lutnick With Jeffrey Epstein on His Island Contradicts Politician's Claim He Visited With His Family
Howard Lutnick's story continues to unravel.
Feb. 27 2026, Updated 1:48 p.m. ET
A photo picturing Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick visiting Jeffrey Epstein's island was briefly removed from the Justice Department's Epstein files website before being restored on Thursday, February 26.
The image shows Epstein, Lutnick and three other men hanging out on a waterside cliff. Donald Trump's cabinet member can be seen smiling behind the late financier while wearing a blue button-down shirt, white shorts and flip flops.
The shot contradicts Lutnick's claim that he was only at the island for "one hour" and was with his wife and kids the entire time.
Howard Lutnick Initially Denied Jeffrey Epstein Ties
Howard Lutnick was pictured with Jeffrey Epstein and other men in a newly uncovered photo.
When Lutnick talked about Epstein in 2025, he insisted he cut off his relationship with the pedophile — who was his former neighbor in NYC — in 2005.
The politician claimed he stopped talking to the financier after he alluded to sexual encounters with women while giving him a house tour.
"My wife and I decided that I will never be in the room with that disgusting person ever again," he claimed on the "Pod Force One" podcast. "So I was never in the room with him socially, for business or even philanthropy."
The politician lied about cutting ties with Jeffrey Epstein in 2005, as he visited the island in 2012.
However, the Epstein files exposed emails from 2012 that proved Lutnick kept in touch with him.
Lutnick came clean but claimed he visited the financier's island only one time in 2012, insisting his wife, children and their nanny were all present when they had lunch there.
It was just four years earlier that Epstein had been convicted of soliciting a minor for prostitution.
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- Dr. Oz Invited Jeffrey Epstein to Valentine's Day Bash After Pedophile's Jail Release, DOJ Files Claim
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Howard Lutnick's Family Visited Jeffrey Epstein's Island in 2012
Howard Lutnick claimed he visited the island with his children, wife and nannies.
"We had lunch on the island, that is true, for an hour," Lutnick stated. "Then we left with all of my children, with my nannies and my wife all together. We were on family vacation. We were not apart."
"To suggest there was anything untoward about that in 2012, I don't recall why we did it. But we did," he continued. "Of these millions and millions of documents, there may be 10 emails connecting me with him… over a 14-year period. I did not have any relationship with him. I barely had anything to do with that person."
Will Howard Lutnick Have to Give a Testimony?
The House Oversight and Government Reform Committee may subpoena the politician.
Democrats on the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee revealed on Friday, February 27, that they may order Lutnick to testify.
"I believe we will have the votes to subpoena him," Rep. Ro Khanna told the press ahead of Bill Clinton's deposition.
Added Chair James Comer, "We’re going to continue to, you know, ask questions of everyone … that shows up in photos on the island and things like that."
