U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, who is under pressure to resign over alleged ties to the late U.S. child sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, on the 10th (local time) categorically denied any personal familiarity or relationship with Epstein.

Appearing at a hearing of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, and Science the same day, Lutnick said, “I had no relationship with him. Virtually no connection at all.”

Earlier, controversy erupted after Lutnick’s name appeared in about 250 of the Epstein-related documents released by the U.S. Ministry of Justice. In particular, documents indicating that in 2012 he planned a visit to Epstein’s privately owned island where his sex crimes largely took place fueled suspicions that he had maintained close contacts with Epstein.

This contradicted a podcast interview last year in which Secretary Lutnick said, “After meeting Epstein in 2005, I felt disgust and never met him again,” and it led to calls for his resignation.

At the hearing, he testified that after first meeting Epstein in 2005, he met him three times in total until Epstein died in custody in 2019. He said, “Once six years after the first meeting, and then again a year and a half after that,” adding, “I have not met him since.”

He also said, “Among the millions of Epstein-related documents, there are probably only about ten emails connecting me to him,” emphasizing, “The only confirmed document is a record that we met for one hour at 5 p.m. in May 2011; it was not a dinner or any other engagement.”

Regarding the 2012 island visit, he explained, “We had lunch while traveling by boat during a family vacation,” and, “All we did was spend about an hour on the island with my wife and children, a nanny, and other family members.” However, he said he did not remember the exact reason for visiting the island.

Secretary Lutnick stated, “The only people I saw on the island were employees who worked for Epstein,” and, “I have never done anything even slightly wrong under any circumstances.” He added, “My wife and I know that I did not engage in inappropriate conduct in any respect.”

Despite Secretary Lutnick acknowledging that his statement last year that ‘he had not met Epstein again after 2005’ was not true, the White House said that U.S. President Donald Trump fully supports him.

White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt said at a briefing that, “Secretary Lutnick is a very important member of President Trump’s team, and the President completely trusts and supports him.”

Secretary Lutnick is playing a key role in President Trump’s tariff policy and in negotiations to reduce tariffs and secure investment in the United States with major trading partners such as South Korea and Japan.