Epstein files: Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick set for May 6 interview by House Oversight

Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick is scheduled to appear May 6 before the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform for an interview about notorious sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, a person familiar with the situation told CNBC on Monday."It's a voluntary transcribed interview," the person said, speaking on condition of anonymity because the appearance hasn't yet been announced.Oversight Committee Chairman Rep. James Comer, R-Ky., said March 3 that Lutnick had agreed to the interview about the crimes of Epstein and his convicted procurer, Ghislaine Maxwell, but did not announce what day that would happen.The Commerce Department did not immediately respond to a request for comment about Lutnick's scheduled appearance.Lutnick, during testimony on Feb. 10 to the Senate Appropriations Committee, said he and his family had lunch with Epstein in December 2012 on Epstein's private Caribbean island, which he visited along with the family's nannies.That meal came more than four years after Epstein pleaded guilty in Florida state court to soliciting an underage girl for prostitution, for which he served 13 months in jail.Lutnick's admission in that Senate testimony came after he had claimed to have cut off contact with Epstein, who was his neighbor in New York, in 2005.But Department of Justice files about Epstein show Lutnick remained in contact with him for years afterward.Former President Bill Clinton testified to the committee about Epstein on Feb. 28, after being subpoenaed."I saw nothing and I did nothing wrong," Clinton said about the times he spent flying and socializing with Epstein.At that time, Clinton said, "I had no idea of the crimes Epstein was committing."The Oversight Committee on March 17 issued a subpoena compelling then-Attorney General Pam Bondi to sit for a deposition on Epstein on April 14.

President Donald Trump fired Bondi on Thursday.The Oversight panel on March 3 said it had asked seven other people to sit for voluntary interviews about Epstein, including Microsoft founder Bill Gates, Goldman Sachs' top lawyer, Kathryn Ruemmler, billionaires Leon Black and Ted Waitt.Got a confidential news tip? We want to hear from you.Sign up for free newsletters and get more CNBC delivered to your inboxGet this delivered to your inbox, and more info about our products and services.© 2026 Versant Media, LLC.

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