House Democrats have escalated their demands for Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick’s resignation, accusing him of publicly misrepresenting his past connections with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein and failing to be forthright during a subsequent closed-door interview with lawmakers. A letter from the Democratic minority of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform explicitly stated, “The facts are clear: you lied to the American people and attempted to conceal your relationship with Jeffrey Epstein in your public statements.”

The controversy stems from Lutnick’s earlier claims, including an interview last year where he stated that after a visit to Epstein’s Manhattan mansion in 2005, he decided he would “never be in the room with that disgusting person ever again.” He further asserted he was never with Epstein socially, for business, or philanthropy. However, the release of Department of Justice files related to Epstein, coupled with Lutnick’s own admission during a Senate hearing, revealed that he and his family had lunch on Epstein’s private island in 2012, contradicting his previous assertions. Democrats contend that Lutnick’s earlier statements were “demonstrably false” given this evidence.

During a recent voluntary appearance before the House Oversight Committee, Lutnick acknowledged three in-person meetings with Epstein, including the 2005 and 2012 interactions. He maintained that his original statements were accurate, arguing that his use of “I” rather than “we” was a crucial distinction and that these encounters were “meaningless and inconsequential.” Lawmakers, however, dismissed his explanations, writing that “no reasonable person would accept this account” and accusing him of offering “implausible distinctions and semantic games” instead of correcting the record.

The House Democrats’ letter concluded that Lutnick’s “lack of candor demonstrates that you are unfit to perform the duties required of you as secretary of Commerce, and you must step down immediately.” In response, a Commerce Department spokesperson defended Lutnick, calling the letter “another failing attempt by congressional Democrats to distract from Secretary Lutnick’s historic work.” The spokesperson added that Lutnick answered nearly 400 questions and repeatedly explained that three encounters did not constitute a relationship, dismissing the resignation calls as “baseless and politically motivated.” The White House has also affirmed President Donald Trump’s continued support for Lutnick amidst the scrutiny.