Lawmakers across party lines are now openly calling for Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick to step down as more details surface about his ties to the late sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein.
A recent document dump tied to the Epstein investigation shows that Lutnick and his family accepted an invitation to visit Epstein’s private island in 2012 and that Lutnick met Epstein for drinks multiple titmes — years after Epstein’s criminal history was public. Those disclosures directly conflict with Lutnick’s previous public insistence that he severed ties with Epstein much earlier.
Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) said Sunday that Lutnick “should just resign,” arguing the fallout would have been far harsher overseas.
“I mean, there are three people in Great Britain that have resigned in politics,” Massie said. “The ambassador from Great Britain to the United States, the prince lost his title for less than what we’ve seen Howard Lutnick lie about.”
Democrats are now echoing the demand. Sen. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) joined the calls Monday, posting on X that Lutnick should step aside. “He has no business being our Commerce Secretary,” Schiff said.
The Commerce Department has continued to defend Lutnick, insisting his interactions with Epstein were “limited” and denying any wrongdoing. But the documents tell a more complicated story — one that shows continued social contact well after Epstein’s conviction, despite Lutnick’s repeated assurances to the contrary.
What makes this moment different is not just the Epstein connection, but the growing sense that Lutnick’s credibility is shot. The revelations don’t merely raise questions about judgment — they raise questions about honesty, and that’s what has lawmakers openly talking about resignation instead of damage control.
For years, Epstein’s network of powerful associates avoided serious scrutiny. Now, with names resurfacing and receipts backing them up, the political cost is finally catching up — and Howard Lutnick is suddenly standing alone at the center of it.
The spectacle of a Republican publicly pressuring a Republican appointee to step down highlights broader tensions over accountability and transparency in the handling of the Epstein materials. Critics have blasted the Trump administration and the Department of Justice for alleged slow-walking of the files release.
Whether Lutnick will step aside is still unanswered, but the political fissures Massie’s remarks have exposed are anything but trivial.
Watch Massie’s remarks below from CNN:
