The massive Epstein file release on January 30, 2026, by the Department of Justice has uncovered a 2012 email exchange between Howard Lutnick, now United States Secretary of Commerce, and Jeffrey Epstein. The correspondence, dated December 19, 2012, shows Lutnick informing Epstein of his family's travel itinerary in the Caribbean.
In the email, Lutnick writes, "We are landing in St. Thomas early Saturday afternoon and planning to head over to St. Bart's/Anguilla on Monday at some point. Where are you located (what is exact location for my captain)? Does Sunday evening for dinner sound good? I have another couple (Michael and Marcy Lehrman) with me on my boat, and each of us has 4 children: two 16's, two 14's, a 13, a 12, an 11, and a 7-year-old."
These children refer to Lutnick's own family and those of his traveling companions, not any victims or unrelated minors. Epstein responds the same day, suggesting, "come sat or sunday lunch? little st james on the map, behind christmas cove."
Lesley Groff, Epstein's former executive assistant, forwards the chain the next day with "FYI! I will let y'all know what he says!"
Lutnick, born July 14, 1961, has been a prominent Wall Street figure as chairman and CEO of Cantor Fitzgerald since 1991. He survived the September 11, 2001, attacks that killed his brother, Gary, and 658 Cantor employees.
In November 2025, President Donald Trump nominated him as Secretary of Commerce, a role he assumed after Senate confirmation in January 2026. Lutnick has been a key Trump ally, co-chairing the transition team and advocating for economic policies like tariffs on China.
Regarding Epstein, Lutnick has stated he met the financier through mutual friends in the early 2000s and had limited interactions, mostly social or business-related.
He has denied ever visiting Little St. James or Epstein's other properties or knowing about the criminal activities. In a 2026 statement following the file release, Lutnick reiterated, "I never went to that island, and my family vacation was a normal trip with friends. Epstein was an acquaintance, but I had no part in his horrors."
The files do not contain evidence that Lutnick accepted the lunch invitation or engaged in any illegal behavior. No allegations of wrongdoing by Lutnick appear in the documents, and he has not been charged in connection with Epstein's crimes.
Still, the proximity of his travel plans to Epstein's island, a site infamous for sex trafficking and abuse of underage girls, invites scrutiny on how elites like Lutnick navigated relationships with a man whose depravity was an open secret in certain circles.
Epstein, convicted in 2008 for procuring a minor for prostitution and later facing federal sex trafficking charges before his 2019 death in jail, used his wealth and connections to ensnare powerful figures. Lutnick's email shows the casual access Epstein had to billionaires and influencers, even as red flags mounted.
While Lutnick's involvement seems peripheral based on available information, the broader Epstein network reveals how predators exploited social ties for cover.
For now, Lutnick deserves the presumption of innocence absent concrete proof. His public record post-9/11, rebuilding Cantor Fitzgerald, and supporting victims' families, stands in contrast to Epstein's evil. He deserves the benefit of the doubt.
Yet these revelations underscore why full transparency matters - to ensure no one, regardless of status, escapes accountability if deeper ties emerge.
As Commerce Secretary, Lutnick's role in advancing American economic strength remains vital, but questions about past associations remind us that vigilance is key in rooting out corruption at every level.