Transcription
Donald Trump's commerce secretary, Howard Lutnik, was on Capitol Hill today where he was a witness during a Senate hearing. He was grilled on a number of topics, but most notably, he was grilled about his connections to Jeffrey Epstein because his name appears repeatedly within the Epstein files.
Now, previously, Howard Lutnik had stated that he had only one interaction with Jeffrey Epstein in 2005 after purchasing a townhouse in New York City from Epstein. Lutnik said that he was invited by Epstein to take a tour of Epstein's house. Lutnik said he saw a massage table in Epstein's house and was so grossed out at Epstein that he had no interactions ever again.
Now, in the Epstein files, we know that there are at least eight meaningful interactions that seem to be referenced between Lutnik and Epstein after 2005, including a trip in 2012, where Lutnik and another family brought their children to Epstein's island in December of 2012. And shortly thereafter, Lutnik entered into a business transaction where he was essentially business partners with Epstein on a deal. So Lutnik had a lot of explaining to do and to me his explanations were terrible during this Senate hearing and he needs to resign immediately.
Let me show you what went down when Howard Lutnik arrived at the United States Senate and you'll see reporters asking him questions before he gave that testimony here. Play this clip and people about your interactions with Epste. >> Did you have any financial involvement with Jeffrey Epste? Why did you keep contact with Jeffrey Epste after he plead guilty to sex crimes? >> Congress. >> What do you say to the Democrats calling out for you to resign? Give >> us some space. >> Mr. Epste, people of your level in the British government have been resigned. >> Why did you keep contact with Jeffrey Epstein after he plead guilty? >> I look forward to testifying today. >> Did you mischaracterize your relationship with him? Why did you Why did you say you found him gross but still kept in contact with him? >> What do you say to those who are calling for you to resign now? >> Are you willing to speak to Congress about this? >> I'm going to speak to Congress right now. >> Do you expect to be asked about Epstein? >> Why?
Now, let's go into the testimony given by Howard Lutnik. Democratic Senator Van Holland asked Lutnik, "So, did you in fact make that visit to Epstein Island in December of 2012, even though you previously stated you had no contact with Epstein since one interaction in 2005?" Play this clip. >> But Nick, um, I I think you understand the root of concern here. It's the way you described very emphatically your first encounter with him in his apartment, said you were disgusted, would never have any contact with him again. Did you in fact make the visit to Jeffrey Epstein's private island? >> I did have lunch with him as I was on a boat going across on a family vacation. My wife was with me as were my four children and nannies. I had another couple with they were there as well with their children and we had lunch on the island. That is true for an hour and we left with all of my children with my nannies and my wife all together. We were on family vacation. We were not apart. to suggest there was anything unoured about that in 2012. I don't I don't recall why we did it, but >> Mr. Secretary, again, I as I said, there's >> more cross-examination here from Democratic Senator Van Holland. Why did the Epstein file show you coordinating meetings with Epstein? Here, play this clip. Uh, Secretary Lutnik, as I said in my opening statement, you led people to believe that you had cut off all contact with Jeffrey Epstein after the 2005 encounter you and your wife had in his apartment. But, as I'm sure you know, the Epstein files show a very different record of interaction. Why do the Epstein files show you coordinating a meeting and planning a visit with Jeffrey Epstein on his private island in December 2012? Thank you for the question. I'm glad to be here to make it clear that I met Jeffrey Epstein when he moved when I moved to a house next door to him in New York. Right. And uh I met him then. Over the next 14 years, I met him two other times that I can recall. Two times and that is none for six years. So, six years later, I met him and then a year and a half after that I met him and never again. Probably the total and you've seen all of these documents of these millions and millions of documents. There may be 10 emails connecting me with him. probably about 10 emails connecting me with him. Over a 14-year period, I did not have any relationship with him. I barely had anything to do with that person. Okay, >> Secretary Letic. >> And more questions from Democratic Senator Van Holland here. There's reference in the Epstein files to exchanging nannies with Jeffrey Epste. What do you know about this nanny exchange? Howard Lutnik here. Play this clip. >> Uh questions I I have um before we close. One is just to follow up on one of your responses with respect to the Epstein files, specifically the visit you and your family uh took to Epstein's private island in 2012. And I think you also said you went on his yacht. Is that right? Or boat? No. >> No. >> Okay. They didn't >> um at at that time I think you mentioned that uh you were accompanied by your wife and kids and and nannies. Uh my question is do you know whether the nanny that you had on that trip was the same nanny that Jeffrey Epstein expressed interest in meeting? >> No. I I have no idea about that whole thing. I mean I don't recall it having anything to do with me. And I don't know that. >> It's just, you know, this this guy was a convicted sex offender and obviously not a a great place for kids and nannies. Was Gelain Maxwell at the on the island at that time? >> No.
And then Senator Van Golland asks Lutnik, "So when you visited the Epstein Island, did you see anything inappropriate when you brought your children to the island where sex trafficking of children was taking place with a now with a child sex trafficker?" Here, play this clip. the fact that you believe that you misled the country and the Congress based on your earlier statements suggesting that you'd cut off all contact when in fact you had not. When you visited the private island, did you see anything inappropriate during that visit? The only thing I saw with my wife and my children and the other couple uh and their children was staff who worked for Mr. Epstein on that island. >> And you realize that, you know, this this visit took place after he had been convicted, right? I mean, you made a a very big point of saying that you sensed that this was a bad person in 2005. And then of course in 2008 he was convicted of soliciting prostitution of a minor and and yet you went and had this trip and other interactions. Did you have a dinner in Epstein's New York City home in 2011? >> No. >> So the information that suggests that there was a dinner with Woody Allen and Woody Allen's spouse at the Epstein residence. That's That's There's nothing to that. Is that right? >> I actually don't know what you're referring to. There was Look, I I looked through the uh millions of documents for my name just like everybody else. >> And what I found was there was a document that says that I had a meeting with him on uh in May, I think, uh for an hour for at 5:00. >> Okay. not dinner or otherwise for an hour at five o'clock. >> All right. There's >> And then you have Howard Lutnik here responding to additional questioning saying, "To the best of my memory, I met him just one time and there was like three other interactions. He is a liar and he needs to go immediately." Watch this as he answers more questions. Play this clip. >> Last, a closing comment if I might, Mr. Secretary. Um, Senator Van Holland asked about your engagements with your former neighbor, Mr. Epstein. Uh, I was encouraged to see your declaration that in 2005 you concluded he was a disgusting man with whom you should have no contact. Um, but it troubles me that you took your family to lunch on his island, that you had appointments with him. Please disclose everything. Put this to rest because this is an issue of grave concern to my constituents. President Trump ran on releasing the Epstein files. You said casually, "Well, I looked at my name and how it appeared in them, as does everyone." No, everyone isn't worried about their names being in the Epstein files. I know he was your neighbor. That was a coincidence, but please disclose everything that's relevant here so that we have a chance to work together and move on. To the best of my memory, I met him when he moved next door to me and I met him two other times in 14 years. None within six years of that first meeting and then a year and a half later and none thereafter. and in the presence of my wife. And as uh Senator Van Holland said, under no circumstances is there a single word that I've done anything remotely wrong in any possible regard. I did not have a anything you could call a relationship, anything you could call an acquaintance. I literally met him three times over 14 years with widespread in between. That's all I can remember. That's all there is in the documents. I didn't look through the documents with any fear whatsoever because I know and my wife knows that I have done absolutely nothing wrong in any possible regard. >> Well, thank you for answering our questions today.
Then you had Senator Mkeley read out a timeline of Lutnik's relationship with Epstein. Let's play this clip right here. The reason people are bothered is because last year you said you'd cut off all contact, but there are eight instances of interaction uh in the in the files after 2005. Uh in 2009, you wanted to speak with Epstein. You asked for his phone number. In 2011, there was the appointment for for drinks. In 2012, uh you were planning a trip to to uh the private island with your your family. That sounds like, you know, somebody you know well enough to call up and say, "Let's get our families together. Let's visit each other." In 2013, uh the uh exchange of information about an article relating to intellectual property and gambling, topics that you have an interest in. Uh you've both signed up for an an investment. It's not clear if you had conversations about that same investment, but you were neighbors. You made the same investment. Maybe, maybe not. Uh the um uh and then in in uh 15 um Mr. uh Pollson in 2017, Mr. John Pollson wrote and to Epstein saying, "Uh, hey, why don't you contribute to this event? you're a close friend of the Lethnics and it's honoring Lenik. Again, that was may not have been you personally involved in that, but I know from many events um when people are raising money, they say, "Who do all do you know that might be contribute if I'm honored?" And one supplies a list uh and so I guess collectively it suggests that when you said you cut off all contact in 2005, that was probably not a full and complete.
Now again, just to remind you what Howard Lutnik had previously said, this is when he sat down with the New York Post last year. A reporter by the name of Miranda Divine asked him, "Well, it's interesting that Epstein was your neighbor in 2005. So, what were your interactions with him like?" This is what Lutnik has been publicly saying before his testimony today about Epstein. Watch this interview with the New York Post so you can see what a liar this guy is and he's lies about everything and about the most horrific things. Play this clip. >> He was your neighbor for 10 years. How well did you know him? >> All right. So we are in number 11 and he lives in number nine. >> Right. >> So uh we renovate we buy our house and our house is pigeons and mice. >> Right. >> Okay. That's it was derelct. >> So we build we rebuild our house. to move in in 2005. Okay. Jeffrey Epste is arrested in like08, I think, or something like that. >> Right. Right. >> So, knock on the door. His assistant on like a Saturday says, "Mr. Epstein, uh, your neighbor would like to invite you over for coffee." >> So, my wife and I go next door, you know, we walk the seven steps. >> Yes. >> Right. To the next house for for coffee. We share a wall. >> Right. >> Right. So, it's in New York City. So, he invites us in. We have coffee in this. And he says, "Do you want a tour?" >> He said, "Great." >> Interesting. >> He's got a really big house. >> Every room you went into, >> he's got he's got Well, I'll tell you. So, his house is like super big, really wide. And uh so he gives me a tour in the living room. Big living room. And then across from it is double doors. I assume it's the dining room. >> Yeah. >> And he opens the doors and there's a massage table in the middle of the room. >> Oo. and candles all around and stuff. So I ask very insightful cutting questions. I say to him, "Massage table in the middle of your house? How often you have a massage?" And he says, "Every day." And then he like gets like weirdly close to me >> and he says, "And the right kind of massage." >> Now my wife is standing here. So she looks at me and I look at her and we say, "I'm sorry. We have to go." And we left. And in the six or eight steps it takes to get from his house to my house, my wife and I decided that I will never be in the room with that disgusting person ever again. So, I was never in the room with him socially, for business, or for even philanthropy. If that guy was there, I wasn't going cuz he's gross.
And then here's what Lutnik said about Epstein as well. That look, the guy's gross. He's a gross person. That's why I didn't want to be around him. So, Miranda Divine from the New York Post asked, "So then how come people like Bill Gates and all these other people wanted to be around him?" Here, play this clip. >> I mean, that's an incredible story that you could pick up that he was a pervert. >> It's gross. That guy's gross. >> Right with my wife. He's gross. The guy's gross. This was not Oh, the deep nuance of Howard Lutton. This guy's gross. >> Right. So, how come Bill Gates and all these other people could hang around him and not see what you saw? Or did they see it and ignore it or >> No, they participated. >> Right. That's what his MO was, you know, get a massage, get a massage. And what happened in that massage room, I assume, was on video. This guy was the greatest black mailer ever. Blackmailed people. That's how he had money. So >> So what happened to those videos? Why is there now such a der of information when, you know, Donald Trump's people are running the FBI and the DOJ? >> I assume way back when >> Mhm. They traded those videos in exchange for him getting that 18month sentence which allowed him to have visits and be out of jail. I mean, he's a serial sex offender. >> How could he get 18 months and be able to go to his office during the day and have visitors and stuff? Must have been a trade. M >> so my assumption not I have no knowledge >> but my assumption is there was a trade for the videos cuz there were people on those videos >> and have you talked to Donald Trump about this and shared your theory. >> No I mean he knows the story >> right >> but like my story that you know I was the one and done with the guy. He knows that story but that's it.
And now I'll just share with you how Lutnik basically, you know, sucks up to Donald Trump because this is just the most pathetic regime right now of individuals covering up child sex trafficking. So here's what Lutnik says when he gives his uh media appearances on state regime media. He'll go on State Regime Media Fox and he'll be asked, "So what's the atmosphere like in the room when you're with Donald Trump?" And Lutnick says, "You feel the power. You feel the power of the man. Play this clip. >> I mean, we see video of you sitting across from your Chinese counterparts. I know there's a lot of respect at the table, but are you kind of like kicking these guys a little bit, you know, maybe like just a little bit? I mean, what's what's the atmosphere in that room? >> Well, you know, look, the the atmosphere in the room is that you feel the power of your man. you know, the president's power, the guy on your side of the table, he's washing all over you. So, when he when he is strong and and making the points, you know, you feel good and we're up. So, our president is really the strongest, most confident, able to deliver for the American people and that's why it's so much fun to be on our side of the table. Now, President Xi holds his own and there's a guy who just doesn't smile much. He is a strong character and that's the president likes to say you know this is a strong character but I tell you what the president of the United States holds his own more than holds his own he holds the room he is the most important leader in the world and we felt it everywhere we went in Japan in Korea and then with President Xi it is fantastic to have Donald Trump be our president the way he brings respect and he brings the power of our economy everywhere in the world so he could deliver jobs to the American people.
And here's just another example where he's like, "And Donald Trump wears me out. He He's so strong. He wears me out." Here, play this clip. >> And did he let you sleep on the ride home on Air Force One? >> I slept for an hour. >> I did. I slept for one I slept for one hour. He is the strongest he is the strongest human being that I know. I mean, you know, he wear he can wear me out and I tell you, I have got plenty of energy and he just works and works and works. It is a pleasure to be >> Well, go get some sleep, Secretary. Uh, I think you guys need it. Great job over there. And this fight with China continues. It's a battle. Thank you.
There you have it, folks. That's what went down on Cap. I'll show you one more clip. How about I show you? There was other questions about other topics. This was a question from Republican Senator Kennedy from Louisiana. Just so you can see a question on another topic that went down as well here. Play this clip. >> Mr. Secretary, the Census Bureau is is under your jurisdiction, is it not? >> Yes, it is. >> And the Census Bureau is is in charge of uh defining what it means to be poor or in poverty in America. Is that correct? I think it does economic analysis for America, >> but it also defines poverty level, does it not? >> I don't know if it's the defining um >> Well, you need to look because it does. >> Okay. >> Um h how if you know, this isn't a quiz. If you know, what's the uh percentage of Americans who live at or below the poverty level? >> I I don't know the percentage. >> Okay, it's around 11%. It's It's been constant.
There you have it, folks. Let me know what you think. Hit subscribe. Let's get to 6 million subscribers and let me know, do you think he needs to resign? Want to stay plugged in? Become a subscriber to our Substack at midasplus.com. You'll get daily recaps from Ron Philipski, ad free episodes of our podcast, and more exclusive content only available at midasplus.com.