Howard Lutnick told lawmakers that his ties to Jeffrey Epstein amounted to just three meetings that he described as "meaningless and inconsequential," drawing a sharp line between himself and the disgraced financier.

A newly released transcript of a closed-door interview with the House oversight and reform committee shows the commerce secretary denied any broader connection to Epstein. Lutnick said he had no “personal or professional relationship” with him and used his opening statement to condemn Epstein’s conduct and the actions of others involved in his illegal activities. The testimony places Lutnick’s account on the record at a moment when public officials face intense pressure to explain any past contact with Epstein.

“I unequivocally condemn the conduct attributed to Jeffrey Epstein and everyone who participated in his illegal activities.”

The transcript appears to frame the issue narrowly: how often Lutnick met Epstein, what those encounters meant, and whether any relationship extended beyond them. Based on the released account, Lutnick told the committee the answer was no. Reports indicate lawmakers sought to pin down the extent of any contact, while Lutnick emphasized that the meetings carried no lasting significance.

Key Facts

  • A House committee transcript shows Howard Lutnick said he met Jeffrey Epstein three times.
  • Lutnick told lawmakers he had no personal or professional relationship with Epstein.
  • He described the meetings as “meaningless and inconsequential.”
  • In his opening statement, Lutnick condemned Epstein’s conduct and related illegal activity.

The release matters because transcripts turn private testimony into a public document that can be tested against other evidence, accounts, or future disclosures. Lutnick’s statement does not end scrutiny around Epstein’s network, but it gives a clear and limited version of events from a cabinet official now answering questions under congressional examination.

What happens next depends on whether lawmakers or other investigators surface information that challenges or reinforces Lutnick’s account. For now, the transcript sets a firm baseline: three meetings, no relationship, no ongoing contact. In a case where even brief associations can carry political and public consequences, that distinction will likely shape the next round of questions.