US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick's Planned 2012 Visit to Epstein's Private Island Revealed in Documents
Newly released Justice Department documents have unveiled that US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, who previously claimed to have severed all ties with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, had actually planned a visit to Epstein's private Caribbean island in December 2012. This revelation directly contradicts Lutnick's public statements about avoiding any association with Epstein after being revolted by him years earlier.
Contradictory Evidence Emerges from Official Records
According to documents released on Friday, Lutnick sent an email to Epstein in December 2012 indicating he would be traveling to the Caribbean with his wife, children, and another family. In this communication, Lutnick specifically inquired about Epstein's location and asked whether they could visit for a meal together. The New York Times reported this exchange, which shows Lutnick actively seeking to connect with Epstein despite his previous claims of complete separation.
Epstein responded through an assistant, providing detailed information about the location of Little St. James, his private island situated off the coast of St. Thomas in the US Virgin Islands. The correspondence reveals that both parties eventually settled on concrete plans for a lunch gathering scheduled for December 23, 2012.
Lutnick's Changing Narrative and Recent Statements
When reached by phone on Friday regarding these revelations, Lutnick stated he could not comment on the island visit because he had not seen the latest Epstein documents. He emphatically declared, "I spent zero time with him," before abruptly ending the call. This response stands in stark contrast to the documentary evidence suggesting the visit did occur.
The documents indicate that on December 24, 2012, just one day after the planned gathering, an assistant to Epstein forwarded Lutnick a message from Epstein that read: "Nice seeing you." This communication strongly suggests the meeting took place as planned.
Previous Claims of Complete Separation
In a podcast interview conducted last year, Lutnick presented a dramatically different version of his relationship with Epstein. He claimed that around 2005, he and his wife had become so disgusted by Epstein that they decided never to associate with him again. Lutnick recounted a specific incident where Epstein invited them to tour his Upper East Side mansion, located next door to Lutnick's own home.
During this visit, Lutnick recalled noticing a massage table in the middle of a room. Epstein explained that he received "the right kind of massage" every day, which prompted Lutnick and his wife to quickly leave the premises. Lutnick stated in the interview: "We decided to never be in a room with that disgusting person ever again." He further emphasized: "So I was never in the room with him socially, for business, or even philanthropy. If that guy was there, I wasn't going, because he's gross."
Ongoing Connections and Additional Interactions
The documents reveal that the connection between Lutnick and Epstein extended beyond the 2012 island visit. In November 2012, just before the planned Caribbean excursion, an assistant to Epstein reached out to Lutnick with a message stating: "Jeffrey requested I please pass along some phone numbers to you so the two of you can possibly get together."
Lutnick's planned Caribbean trip included his wife, Allison, who explained in an email that they would be arriving on a 188-foot yacht called "Excellence." The documents further show that Lutnick and Epstein's lives continued to intersect in subsequent years.
In 2017, Epstein contributed to a charity dinner honoring Lutnick, indicating some level of ongoing connection. The following year, in 2018, they exchanged emails that appear to discuss joining forces to oppose construction plans by The Frick Collection, a museum located across the street from both of their New York homes.
Broader Context of Epstein Island Visits
Prominent individuals who maintained close associations with Jeffrey Epstein have faced intense scrutiny in recent years for their visits to Little St. James, his private island in the US Virgin Islands. While many such visits have been publicly documented and investigated, Lutnick's planned 2012 visit had not been previously disclosed until the release of these Justice Department documents.
The revelation adds another layer to the complex web of relationships surrounding Epstein and raises questions about the accuracy of public statements made by individuals connected to him. As more documents continue to emerge, the full extent of these associations may become clearer, potentially prompting further examination of statements made by public figures regarding their interactions with the convicted financier.
