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\n Howard Lutnick and Jeffrey Epstein corresponded through intermediaries several times in 2011 and 2012 \u2013 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.\n <\/p>\n
\n 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.\n <\/p>\n
\n But he said in an interview last year<\/a> that after a 2005 encounter at Epstein\u2019s home, he grew uncomfortable and vowed that he \u201cwill never be in the room with that disgusting person ever again.\u201d\n <\/p>\n \n \u201cSo I was never in the room with him socially, for business \u2014 or even philanthropy,\u201d he said in the October interview. \u201cThat guy was there, I wasn\u2019t going, \u2018cause he\u2019s gross.\u201d\n <\/p>\n \n 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.\n <\/p>\n \n Asked for comment, a Commerce Department spokesperson said: \u201cSecretary Lutnick had limited interactions with Mr. Epstein in the presence of his wife and has never been accused of wrongdoing.\u201d\n <\/p>\n \n A 2011 email to Epstein from Epstein\u2019s assistant<\/a> said: \u201cHoward Lutnick returned your call.\u201d Another email to Epstein from his assistant reads<\/a>: \u201cHoward Lutnick will come see you at 5 p.m.\u201d That same year, the heading of an alarm message reads: \u201cDrinks w\/Howard Lutnick\u201d<\/a>\n <\/p>\n \n The next year, both Lutnick\u2019s wife and assistant communicated with an Epstein assistant to set up a visit and lunch on one of Epstein\u2019s Caribbean islands, emails show.\n <\/p>\n \n \u201cJeffrey Epstein understands you will be down in St. Thomas some over the holidays,\u201d Epstein\u2019s assistant wrote in a November 20, 2012, email<\/a> to Lutnick. \u201cJeffrey requested I please pass along some phone numbers to you so the two of you can possibly get together.\u201d\n <\/p>\n \n The next month, Lutnick\u2019s wife, Allison, said in an email that was forwarded to Epstein:<\/a> \u201cWe are looking forward to visiting you,\u201d adding the Lutnicks were part of a large group that included another family.\n <\/p>\n