Howard Lutnick and Jeffrey Epstein corresponded through intermediaries several times in 2011 and 2012 – years after Lutnick had vowed to never be in the same room with Epstein again, documents released by the Department of Justice on Friday show.
The documents reveal a deeper relationship between Lutnick and Epstein than had previously been known. Lutnick, the former chairman of Cantor Fitzgerald and current Commerce Secretary, was a onetime neighbor of Epstein in New York.
But he said in an interview last year that after a 2005 encounter at Epstein’s home, he grew uncomfortable and vowed that he “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 even philanthropy,” he said in the October interview. “That guy was there, I wasn’t going, ‘cause he’s gross.”
The documents released Friday undercut that claim and reveal Lutnick sought to meet with or call Epstein several times since 2005, including after Epstein pleaded guilty to procuring a minor for prostitution in 2008.
Asked for comment, a Commerce Department spokesperson said: “Secretary Lutnick had limited interactions with Mr. Epstein in the presence of his wife and has never been accused of wrongdoing.”
A 2011 email to Epstein from Epstein’s assistant said: “Howard Lutnick returned your call.” Another email to Epstein from his assistant reads: “Howard Lutnick will come see you at 5 p.m.” That same year, the heading of an alarm message reads: “Drinks w/Howard Lutnick”
The next year, both Lutnick’s wife and assistant communicated with an Epstein assistant to set up a visit and lunch on one of Epstein’s Caribbean islands, emails show.
“Jeffrey Epstein understands you will be down in St. Thomas some over the holidays,” Epstein’s assistant wrote in a November 20, 2012, email to Lutnick. “Jeffrey requested I please pass along some phone numbers to you so the two of you can possibly get together.”
The next month, Lutnick’s wife, Allison, said in an email that was forwarded to Epstein: “We are looking forward to visiting you,” adding the Lutnicks were part of a large group that included another family.
“We are heading towards you from St. Thomas,” Allison Lutnick wrote. “Where should we anchor exactly?” Representatives for Epstein asked what type of boat the Lutnicks would be arriving on so they could properly coordinate.
“188 foot yacht,” Allison Lutnick responded.