Van Hollen, Merkley Press Lutnick for Answers on Epstein Ties

Letter follows Lutnick admission to Senator Van Hollen in Appropriations hearing that he lied about the extent and nature of his relationship with Epstein

Washington DC – Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Ranking Member of the Appropriations Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies, and Senator Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), a member of the Subcommittee and lead sponsor of the Epstein Files Transparency Act, are pressing Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick for answers on his connections to Jeffrey Epstein, following his admission, in response to questions from Senator Van Hollen, that he had visited Jeffrey Epstein’s island after previously claiming not to have a relationship with him.

“We are writing to follow up on your exchanges regarding your relationship with Jeffrey Epstein, the notorious child predator, with members of the Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies during its February 10, 2026 hearing. Specifically, Ranking Member Van Hollen made the point that you had previously lied about the extent and nature of your relationship with Mr. Epstein. Senator Merkley also raised the issue of your relationship with him. We are writing to request additional information on that violation of public trust,” escriben los senadores.

“The recently released Epstein files have revealed interactions between you and Mr. Epstein that directly contradict your prior public statements—including a visit to his private island in 2012, years after you previously claimed to have severed all contact and well after his 2008 conviction for soliciting prostitution from a minor. The files also show that you and Mr. Epstein were each investors in a company called Adfin in 2012. These are glaring discrepancies, and they have understandably further undermined public trust and raised serious questions that only full transparency can address,” ellos continuaron.

“In response, Ranking Member Van Hollen asked whether you would share with Congress your own records relating to your interactions with Mr. Epstein in order to ensure that the public record is complete. You responded that you would give the request some thought and stated, ‘I have nothing to hide,’” they note.

The Senators go on to request answers to a series of questions “[in] order to demonstrate to the Committee, Congress, and the American public that you do, in fact, have nothing to hide regarding your relationship with Mr. Epstein.”

The Senators requests’ for information from Lutnick include that he:

1. Produce all records of meetings, phone calls, and correspondence with Jeffrey Epstein or his associates, covering the full duration of your acquaintance.
2. Provide a complete and accurate timeline of every interaction had with Mr. Epstein, including those that took place after his 2008 conviction.
3. Provide any information or evidence to support the claim that Mr. Epstein is the “greatest blackmailer ever” in your October 2025 interview.
4. Provide answers to questions regarding his nanny. 

“The American people and the survivors of Mr. Epstein’s crimes deserve a full accounting from every public official whose statements on this matter have proven incomplete. If, as you say, you have nothing to hide, then producing these records should be a straightforward matter,” concluyen.

The full text of the letter is available here and below.

Dear Secretary Lutnick:

We are writing to follow up on your exchanges regarding your relationship with Jeffrey Epstein, the notorious child predator, with members of the Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies during its February 10, 2026 hearing.  Specifically, Ranking Member Van Hollen made the point that you had previously lied about the extent and nature of your relationship with Mr. Epstein. Senator Merkley also raised the issue of your relationship with him.  We are writing to request additional information on that violation of public trust.

During a public interview in October 2025, you stated that after being disturbed by a tour of Mr. Epstein’s home in 2005, you “decided I will never be in the room with that disgusting person again” and that you were “never in the room with him socially, for business, or even philanthropy.”

The recently released Epstein files have revealed interactions between you and Mr. Epstein that directly contradict your prior public statements—including a visit to his private island in 2012, years after you previously claimed to have severed all contact and well after his 2008 conviction for soliciting prostitution from a minor. The files also show that you and Mr. Epstein were each investors in a company called Adfin in 2012. These are glaring discrepancies, and they have understandably further undermined public trust and raised serious questions that only full transparency can address.

In response, Ranking Member Van Hollen asked whether you would share with Congress your own records relating to your interactions with Mr. Epstein in order to ensure that the public record is complete. You responded that you would give the request some thought and stated, “I have nothing to hide.”

In order to demonstrate to the Committee, Congress, and the American public that you do, in fact, have nothing to hide regarding your relationship with Mr. Epstein, we ask that you:

1.  Produce all records of your meetings, phone calls, and correspondence with Jeffrey Epstein or his associates, covering the full duration of your acquaintance.  These records should include anything of a personal, business, or other nature and those of any intermediaries, including family members, employees, or other agents of you or Mr. Epstein who facilitated any communications or interactions between you and Mr. Epstein.
2. Provide a complete and accurate timeline of every interaction you had with Mr. Epstein, including those that took place after his 2008 conviction.
3. Provide any information or evidence you have to support your claim that Mr. Epstein is the “greatest blackmailer ever” in your October 2025 interview.
4. Provide answers to the following questions regarding the issue of your nanny.  Ranking Member Van Hollen asked you if the nanny that accompanied you in your lunch visit to Mr. Epstein’s island was the same nanny that Mr. Epstein, in his emails, expressed interest in meeting, to which you replied, “no, I have no idea about that whole thing.  I mean, I don’t recall it having anything to do with me.”
   1. Were you aware that Mr. Epstein obtained the resume of your nanny as demonstrated in the Epstein files? 
   2. Are you aware of Mr. Epstein taking interest in any of your nannies or other employees or obtaining any of their resumes or other personal information about them?
   3. Did you, any of your family members, employees, or anyone else acting on your behalf ever provide Mr. Epstein with a resume or other personal information of this nanny or any other individual in your employ?
   4. What is the name and contact information for your nanny who accompanied you to Epstein’s private island? What are the names and contact information of your other nannies since the time you first met Mr. Epstein to the time he was incarcerated? The answers to these two questions should be provided in a confidential manner to the Subcommittee.
5. No later than March 13, 2026, submit these materials to the Subcommittee to be included in the public record of the February 10, 2026 hearing for the benefit of the full Congress and the American people.

The American people and the survivors of Mr. Epstein’s crimes deserve a full accounting from every public official whose statements on this matter have proven incomplete. If, as you say, you have nothing to hide, then producing these records should be a straightforward matter.

We look forward to your response.

Atentamente,

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