Lutnick claims no relationship with Epstein amid calls to resign

U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick arrives to testify before the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies hearing to examine a review of broadband deployment funding at the Department of Commerce, on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., U.S., February 10, 2026. REUTERS/Elizabeth Frantz

WASHINGTON, ‌Feb 10 (Reuters) - U.S. Commerce Department Secretary Howard Lutnick sought on Tuesday to distance himself from Jeffrey Epstein, alleging he "barely ‌had anything to do with" the financier and convicted sex offender amid calls for his resignation over new ‌revelations about their ties.

The Justice Department in January released millions of new files related to Epstein, including emails that showed Lutnick apparently visited Epstein's private Caribbean island for lunch years after he claimed to have cut off ties. Lutnick, appointed to his post by Republican President Donald Trump last year, now faces calls from ‍both Democrats and Republicans to resign.