In a striking and controversial public remark, U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick described Jeffrey Epstein as “the greatest blackmailer ever,” alleging that Epstein used incriminating footage of powerful individuals to secure lenient treatment from law enforcement. His comments, delivered in a recent podcast interview, have reignited fierce debate over Epstein’s connections, legal dealings, and potential influence over high-profile figures.
Lutnick, who lived next door to Epstein in Manhattan in the early 2000s, recounted a chilling visit in which Epstein gave him and his wife a tour of his townhouse and showed them a “massage room,” suggesting that certain acts in that space might have been filmed. “What happened in that massage room, I assume, was on video,” Lutnick claimed, adding that such material could have been leveraged to trade favor or silence. “This guy was the greatest blackmailer ever … blackmailed people. That’s how he had money.”
He went further, speculating that the 2008 plea deal Epstein struck—widely criticized as overly lenient—was influenced by extortion of high-profile figures: “How could he get 18 months and be able to go to his office during the day … there must have been a trade.” Still, Lutnick emphasized that he has “no knowledge” of the precise mechanics, framing much of his claim as his own assumption.
Lutnick’s statements stand in sharp contrast to more official assessments. In July 2025, a joint memo from the Department of Justice and FBI concluded there was “no credible evidence” that Epstein maintained a “client list” or engaged in blackmail extortion of powerful associates. People.com+3Axios+3TIME+3 That finding, based on the agencies’ latest investigation, has become a central point of dispute in the broader Epstein saga. People.com
The fallout from Lutnick’s assertions was immediate. Rep. Robert Garcia, ranking Democrat on the House Oversight Committee, formally called on Lutnick to testify before Congress at his earliest convenience. In a press release, Garcia noted that the Commerce Secretary’s claim “directly contradicts the Trump Administration’s public statements” and urged full cooperation to uncover whether others in Epstein’s orbit may have been complicit or protected.
Political observers note the sensitivity of the issue. Epstein’s relationships with elite circles, major financial players, and political figures have long fueled speculation and conspiracy theories about a deeper web of corruption. Lutnick’s public statements, coming from a sitting Cabinet member under a Trump appointee administration, add new gravity to those suspicions.
For now, Lutnick’s deeply provocative allegations remain uncorroborated by public evidence. But whether in front of Congress or behind closed doors, his claims will intensify calls for transparency and renewed scrutiny into Epstein’s networks, his plea deals, and the powerful individuals who may have intersected with his dark business.
For months, President Donald Trump has urged his supporters to “move on” from the Jeffrey Epstein controversy, dismissing it as a “Democratic hoax” designed to distract from his administration’s achievements. Yet the debate shows no signs of fading — and this week, one of Trump’s own Cabinet members added fresh fuel to the fire.
In a startling interview on a recent podcast, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick — a billionaire financier and longtime associate of Trump — described Epstein as “gross” and went even further, calling him a “blackmailer.” The comments stand in sharp contrast to the White House’s repeated efforts to downplay Epstein’s influence and distance the president from the late financier, who was a close friend and social acquaintance of Trump’s for more than a decade before their eventual falling out.
Lutnick, the CEO of Cantor Fitzgerald and one of Wall Street’s most powerful figures, recounted personal encounters with Epstein from their days as neighbors in Manhattan. He described visiting Epstein’s townhouse and being shown a “massage room” that he later speculated could have been used for illicit activity. “What happened in that massage room, I assume, was on video,” Lutnick said during the podcast. “This guy was the greatest blackmailer ever — blackmailed people. That’s how he had money.”
His remarks have sent shockwaves through political and media circles, as they appear to validate one of the most persistent conspiracy theories surrounding Epstein — that his wealth and protection stemmed from blackmail material on powerful individuals. Lutnick offered no evidence to support his claim but asserted that Epstein’s 2008 plea deal, which allowed him to serve a light sentence and continue working during the day, “must have been a trade.”
The Commerce Department has not issued an official comment on Lutnick’s statements, and the White House has yet to respond publicly. However, insiders within Trump’s circle privately expressed frustration, saying Lutnick’s remarks “complicate” efforts to close the chapter on Epstein and keep the focus on Trump’s reelection messaging.
On Capitol Hill, Lutnick’s explosive claims are already prompting action. Representative Robert Garcia, the ranking Democrat on the House Oversight Committee, has formally called for Lutnick to testify before Congress, arguing that a sitting Cabinet member making such serious allegations “demands public accountability.” Garcia said in a statement that Lutnick’s comments “contradict the administration’s line and raise fresh questions about what officials may have known regarding Epstein’s activities and connections.”
The controversy has revived scrutiny of Epstein’s long list of political and business relationships, including those with Trump, Bill Clinton, and Prince Andrew. Despite Trump’s repeated denials of any wrongdoing or knowledge of Epstein’s crimes, the association remains a lightning rod for both critics and conspiracy theorists, particularly within Trump’s own MAGA base, which has demanded more transparency about Epstein’s death and the figures tied to him.
In recent months, the Justice Department and the FBI have reaffirmed that they found “no credible evidence” of a hidden “client list” or systemic blackmail operation, conclusions that have not satisfied skeptics on either side of the political aisle. Lutnick’s statement, though speculative, gives new momentum to those who believe Epstein’s influence was far-reaching and that key details remain hidden.
For the president, the timing is particularly sensitive. Trump has spent the past several weeks promoting his economic recovery agenda and preparing for a series of campaign rallies, hoping to keep attention fixed on his administration’s successes rather than lingering scandals. But Lutnick’s remarks have ensured that Epstein’s name — and Trump’s connection to him — will once again dominate headlines.
Whether Lutnick’s claims lead to new investigations or fade into the echo chamber of speculation, they underscore a persistent reality: the Epstein saga continues to cast a long shadow over America’s political and financial elite. And for a president determined to move beyond it, one of his closest allies may have just made that task significantly harder.
Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick during an October 1 interview on a podcast hosted by New York Post columnist Miranda Devine, reigniting public debate over one of America’s most notorious scandals. Lutnick described Jeffrey Epstein as “the greatest blackmailer ever,” alleging that the disgraced financier leveraged compromising videos of powerful men to secure his controversial 2008 plea deal in Florida, which allowed him to serve minimal jail time despite being under investigation for child prostitution and sex trafficking.
Lutnick, a billionaire Wall Street executive and longtime Trump ally, painted a disturbing picture of how Epstein allegedly manipulated the powerful for protection. “He blackmailed people, that’s how he had money,” Lutnick said, suggesting that Epstein’s lenient sentencing was the result of coercive leverage over key figures in law enforcement and politics. His comments add a new and highly controversial dimension to a story that has haunted the political, financial, and social elite for years.
However, Lutnick’s explosive claims directly contradict the findings of a Justice Department and FBI memo released in July 2025, which concluded that investigators had found “no credible evidence” that Epstein ever blackmailed influential individuals or maintained an incriminating “client list.” The memo, which summarized years of federal probes and recently declassified materials, sought to debunk persistent online rumors and conspiracy theories surrounding Epstein’s relationships with powerful men across politics, business, and entertainment.
The Justice Department’s review stated that while Epstein cultivated connections with influential figures, there was “no verified proof” that he used those relationships for extortion or blackmail. The report also reaffirmed that Epstein’s 2008 deal, widely criticized as a miscarriage of justice, was the result of prosecutorial failure and influence, not documented blackmail or video evidence.
Still, Lutnick’s version of events has drawn widespread attention, largely because of his proximity to both Epstein and President Donald Trump, who has urged his supporters to move on from the controversy, calling it a Democratic hoax. Lutnick’s remarks appear to have blindsided the White House, coming at a time when Trump is trying to keep focus on his economic and security agenda ahead of the 2025 election cycle.
Political analysts note that Lutnick’s willingness to speak so candidly about Epstein, once considered a taboo subject in Washington, could signal growing fractures within Trump’s inner circle. Some of Trump’s conservative supporters have also praised Lutnick for “telling the truth,” while others worry his statements could reignite speculation about Epstein’s past connections to prominent political figures, including Trump himself.
The Commerce Department has yet to issue an official statement clarifying whether Lutnick’s remarks reflect personal opinion or administration policy. Meanwhile, Democratic lawmakers are calling for Lutnick to testify before Congress, arguing that a sitting Cabinet secretary making such explosive allegations warrants full transparency and investigation.
The Epstein case remains one of the most politically charged and unresolved stories in recent American history. His mysterious death in 2019, ruled a suicide, continues to fuel public distrust and conspiracy theories about who may have benefited from his silence. Lutnick’s bold statements have now reopened that debate, raising new questions about whether the full truth of Epstein’s operations, and the powerful people within his orbit, will ever come to light.
