Massie Calls for Commerce Secretary Lutnick to Resign After Epstein Files Expose Contacts
Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Kentucky) said Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick “should just resign” after newly released Jeffrey Epstein files revealed emails suggesting Lutnick had contact and visits with Epstein long after he claimed to have cut ties. The comments came as lawmakers struggle with conflicting accounts about Lutnick’s relationship with Epstein and mounting political pressure over the transparency of the document release.
The controversy escalates at a sensitive moment, with the Justice Department’s release of millions of pages of Epstein-related records triggering bipartisan criticism that the disclosure has been incomplete or poorly handled. Massie’s call adds a rare intra-party challenge to one of President Trump’s Cabinet officials.
According to emails and schedules in the files, Lutnick and his wife coordinated a December 2012 lunch on Epstein’s private island, Little St. James — contradicting Lutnick’s earlier statements that he severed ties decades earlier. The records also show they had drinks on another occasion, raising questions about the extent of Lutnick’s relationship with the convicted sex offender.
Massie said the discrepancy between Lutnick’s past denials and the records now public is serious enough to warrant resignation.
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“He should just resign,” Massie said on Inside Politics Sunday, comparing the situation to British officials who stepped down over lesser controversies.
The revelation matters because Commerce is a key Cabinet agency, and trust in senior officials is central to governance. Whether Republican leadership will join bipartisan pressure on Lutnick remains unclear as the broader Epstein file story evolves.
Lawmakers are now demanding more thorough reviews of the remaining unreleased documents and answers from Lutnick’s office about his actions and statements. The next step could include formal congressional inquiries or hearings on executive accountability.
For now, Lutnick is expected to face intensified scrutiny and possible calls from lawmakers for official testimony.
That process is just beginning.
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This is what accountability should look like. But, American public is gonna have to wait, since the Republican Leadership has their head up Trump's Ass! I say investigate, investigate, investigate. It is time for Republican Leadership to do the RIGHT THING or BE SHAMED and if necessary BE VOTED OUT! This should not be Democratic Leadership responsibility to remove MORAL DECAY without backing of the American Voters!