Commerce secretary Howard Lutnick will become the latest of Donald Trump\u2019s cabinet to be questioned over ties to the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein<\/a> when he sits for a closed-door transcribed interview with the Oversight Committee later today.<\/p>\n Lutnick has acknowledged<\/a> visiting Epstein\u2019s private island in 2012 with family members \u2013 a trip that contradicted his earlier claim<\/a> that he had severed ties with Epstein in 2005.<\/p>\n In March, the Department of Justice briefly deleted and then restored<\/a> an undated photo of Lutnick and Epstein in an island setting. CBS News reported<\/a> that Lutnick and Epstein were in business together as recently as 2014.<\/p>\n Lutnick only agreed to the closed-door Capitol Hill testimony after Democrats on the committee publicly threatened to subpoena Lutnick if he refused to cooperate. Representative Ro Khanna of California told reporters<\/a> that the votes were there to compel his testimony.<\/p>\n But getting to this stage has only been possible due to the cooperation of Republicans on the committee. Republican representative Nancy Mace of South Carolina called for Lutnick\u2019s appearance, while James Comer, the Kentucky Republican who chairs the panel, said he had \u201cproactively\u201d agreed to the transcribed interview.<\/p>\n \u201cI commend his demonstrated commitment to transparency and appreciate his willingness to engage with the Committee,\u201d Comer said in a statement at the time.<\/p>\n It in unclear how many members will attend the interview but the commerce chief can expect to be probed over when his relationship with Epstein came to an end.<\/p>\n It comes as Politico reported last week that Mace has complained conversations with Epstein witnesses were taking place while members are out of town or traveling.<\/p>\n \u201cSome of these are being scheduled when we are not in session, and that makes it more difficult,\u201d she said. \u201cThey\u2019re making it the most inconvenient for members of Congress to participate, and that is done on purpose.\u201d<\/p>\n In other developments:<\/p>\n A majority of Indiana Republican legislators whose opponents were backed by Donald Trump lost their primaries on Tuesday, giving the president wins in a deep-red state just months after lawmakers there rejected his redistricting plan. Of the seven Trump-endorsed challengers to state senate candidates, at least five won. More here<\/a>.<\/p>\n Democratic senator Sherrod Brown and Republican senator Jon Husted won their party\u2019s nominations in Ohio\u2019s primary elections, according to the Associated Press \u2013 teeing them up for what is expected to be a high-profile and expensive Senate race in November\u2019s midterm elections. More here<\/a>.<\/p>\n Senate Republicans have released a new immigration enforcement funding package that includes a proposed $1bn that could go to security measures related to the $400m ballroom that is part of Donald Trump\u2019s \u201cEast Wing modernization project\u201d. More here<\/a>.<\/p>\n Marco Rubio argued the US is in a \u201cvery fortunate\u201d position as fuel prices continue to climb nationwide amid disruption sparked by the US-Israel war on Iran. With average US fuel prices now approaching $4.50 a gallon \u2013 their highest level in four years \u2013 the US secretary of state was asked on Tuesday how long Americans should accept them at such levels. Other countries were suffering \u201cbig time\u201d, Rubio replied. More here<\/a>.<\/p>\n Seven of the leading contenders in California\u2019s unexpectedly dramatic race for governor faced off on the debate stage Tuesday night, with the stakes now higher because ballots are in the mail. Becerra was a top target, as expected, given his steady rise in the polls. More here<\/a>.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Key events<\/p>\n Show key events only<\/p>\n Please turn on JavaScript to use this feature<\/p>\n Donald Trump is in Washington today. He\u2019ll spend the earlier part of the day in meetings, before joining the first lady, Melania Trump, for a military Mother\u2019s Day event in the East Room at 12:30pm ET. We\u2019ll bring you the latest lines as that gets under way.<\/p>\n Share<\/a>Former presidential candidate Ramaswamy wins Republican nomination to run for Ohio governor<\/p>\n Former presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy was the Republican choice to run for Ohio governor following last night\u2019s primary vote.<\/p>\n The staunch Donald Trump<\/a> ally will face off against former state health department director Amy Acton, who won the Democratic nomination.<\/p>\n The other major Republican candidate was Casey Putsch, an internet personality and auto racing engineer, who was defeated decisively.<\/p>\n Ramaswamy\u2019s victory was celebrated in a Truth Social post by president Trump last night.<\/p>\n Republican Ohio gubernatorial candidate Vivek speaks during a watch party at the Spruce St. Sporting sports bar after winning the party’s nomination for governor Tuesday, May 5, 2026, in Columbus. Photograph: Carolyn Kaster\/APShare<\/a> The US commerce secretary, Howard Lutnick, will appear before the House oversight and reform committee on Wednesday to answer questions over his past ties to Jeffrey Epstein<\/a>.<\/p>\n Lutnick agreed<\/a> in March to sit for a transcribed interview with the committee following the justice department\u2019s release of millions of documents related to Epstein, which included documents showing that Lutnick continued correspondence with Epstein after the disgraced financier had been convicted of soliciting prostitution from a minor. The session is part of the committee\u2019s broader investigation into Epstein.<\/p>\n \u201cThe Secretary looks forward to addressing any questions on the record when he testifies voluntarily before the Oversight Committee,\u201d a commerce department spokesperson said. \u201cHe looks forward to putting to rest the inaccurate and baseless claims in the media designed to distract from his historic work underway at the Commerce Department.\u201d<\/p>\n The interview on Wednesday will take place behind closed doors, with a transcript released at a later date, as the committee has done with the previous transcribed interviews.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Washington believes it is close to reaching an agreement with Iran<\/a> to reopen the strait of Hormuz and end the war, US news outlet Axios reported, citing two US officials.<\/p>\n According to Axios, the two sides are close to agreeing on a \u201cone-page memorandum of understanding to end the war and set a framework for more detailed nuclear negotiations.\u201d<\/p>\n It said the deal would involve Iran committing to a moratorium on nuclear enrichment and the United States agreeing to release billions of dollars of frozen Iranian funds.<\/p>\n Washington is reportedly awaiting a response from Tehran on several key points in the next 48 hours.<\/p>\n \u201cNothing has been agreed yet, but the sources said this was the closest the parties had been to an agreement since the war began,\u201d Axios said.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Cate Brown<\/p>\n A majority of Indiana Republican legislators whose opponents were backed by Donald Trump<\/a> lost their primaries on Tuesday, giving the president wins in a deep-red state just months after lawmakers there rejected his redistricting plan.<\/p>\n Of the seven Trump-endorsed challengers to state senate candidates, at least five won.<\/p>\n The vote turned into a statewide referendum on political retribution, and a test of Republican staying power after the party\u2019s state lawmakers resisted Donald Trump<\/a>\u2019s bruising campaign to pressure them into redrawing the congressional districts.<\/p>\n Seven state senators who voted against Trump\u2019s mid-decade redistricting push faced challengers endorsed by the president, who said<\/a> that \u201cevery one of these people should be \u2018primaried\u2019\u201d after the effort failed.<\/p>\n Trump-aligned dark money groups spent upwards of $7m on TV ads in Indiana this year, according to a tally from AdImpact \u2013 the majority spent targeting Republicans<\/a> who allied themselves with Democrats in the December redistricting vote.<\/p>\n Jim Buck, a state senator from Kokomo, lost to a Trump-backed challenger after 18 years in office.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019ve never had Washington meddle into our elections like they have this time,\u201d Buck told NPR<\/a>. \u201cNow I\u2019ve got over $1m against me in one race.\u201d<\/p>\n Share<\/a>Commerce chief Howard Lutnick to face Epstein grilling in closed-door interview today<\/p>\n Hello and welcome to the US politics<\/a> live blog.<\/p>\n Commerce secretary Howard Lutnick will become the latest of Donald Trump\u2019s cabinet to be questioned over ties to the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein<\/a> when he sits for a closed-door transcribed interview with the Oversight Committee later today.<\/p>\n Lutnick has acknowledged<\/a> visiting Epstein\u2019s private island in 2012 with family members \u2013 a trip that contradicted his earlier claim<\/a> that he had severed ties with Epstein in 2005.<\/p>\n In March, the Department of Justice briefly deleted and then restored<\/a> an undated photo of Lutnick and Epstein in an island setting. CBS News reported<\/a> that Lutnick and Epstein were in business together as recently as 2014.<\/p>\n Jeffrey Epstein and Howard Lutnick, in blue shirt and white shorts Lutnick only agreed to the closed-door Capitol Hill testimony after Democrats on the committee publicly threatened to subpoena Lutnick if he refused to cooperate. Representative Ro Khanna of California told reporters<\/a> that the votes were there to compel his testimony.<\/p>\n But getting to this stage has only been possible due to the cooperation of Republicans on the committee. Republican representative Nancy Mace of South Carolina called for Lutnick\u2019s appearance, while James Comer, the Kentucky Republican who chairs the panel, said he had \u201cproactively\u201d agreed to the transcribed interview.<\/p>\n \u201cI commend his demonstrated commitment to transparency and appreciate his willingness to engage with the Committee,\u201d Comer said in a statement at the time.<\/p>\n It in unclear how many members will attend the interview but the commerce chief can expect to be probed over when his relationship with Epstein came to an end.<\/p>\n It comes as Politico reported last week that Mace has complained conversations with Epstein witnesses were taking place while members are out of town or traveling.<\/p>\n \u201cSome of these are being scheduled when we are not in session, and that makes it more difficult,\u201d she said. \u201cThey\u2019re making it the most inconvenient for members of Congress to participate, and that is done on purpose.\u201d<\/p>\n In other developments:<\/p>\n A majority of Indiana Republican legislators whose opponents were backed by Donald Trump lost their primaries on Tuesday, giving the president wins in a deep-red state just months after lawmakers there rejected his redistricting plan. Of the seven Trump-endorsed challengers to state senate candidates, at least five won. More here<\/a>.<\/p>\n Democratic senator Sherrod Brown and Republican senator Jon Husted won their party\u2019s nominations in Ohio\u2019s primary elections, according to the Associated Press \u2013 teeing them up for what is expected to be a high-profile and expensive Senate race in November\u2019s midterm elections. More here<\/a>.<\/p>\n Senate Republicans have released a new immigration enforcement funding package that includes a proposed $1bn that could go to security measures related to the $400m ballroom that is part of Donald Trump\u2019s \u201cEast Wing modernization project\u201d. More here<\/a>.<\/p>\n Marco Rubio argued the US is in a \u201cvery fortunate\u201d position as fuel prices continue to climb nationwide amid disruption sparked by the US-Israel war on Iran. With average US fuel prices now approaching $4.50 a gallon \u2013 their highest level in four years \u2013 the US secretary of state was asked on Tuesday how long Americans should accept them at such levels. Other countries were suffering \u201cbig time\u201d, Rubio replied. More here<\/a>.<\/p>\n Seven of the leading contenders in California\u2019s unexpectedly dramatic race for governor faced off on the debate stage Tuesday night, with the stakes now higher because ballots are in the mail. Becerra was a top target, as expected, given his steady rise in the polls. More here<\/a>.<\/p>\n![\"Jeffrey](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/1904.png\")
Jeffrey Epstein and Howard Lutnick, in blue shirt and white shorts
\n Photograph: Department of Justice<\/p>\n![\"Anna](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Anna_Betts.png\")
Anna Betts<\/p>\n
\n Photograph: Department of Justice<\/p>\n