Individual Profile β€” Howard Lutnick

profile v2 Updated 2026-02-26
#doj-evidence-complete #epstein-document #lutnick #profile

Source: Epstein World Pulse β€” Master Index. All claims are from internet research as of February 2026. DOJ file cross-referenced 2026-02-26.

Who They Are

Howard Lutnick is the CEO of Cantor Fitzgerald, the financial services firm. He is also the current US Secretary of Commerce, having been confirmed to the position by the US Senate in the Trump administration. He was a close friend of victims of the September 11, 2001 attacks β€” Cantor Fitzgerald lost 658 employees that day.

Connection to Epstein β€” Overview

Emails revealed that Lutnick's family β€” his wife, four children, and nannies β€” visited Epstein's private island in December 2012, contradicting his prior claim of having cut ties with Epstein in 2005. He also had a one-hour one-on-one meeting with Epstein approximately a year and a half after the island visit. He publicly confirmed the island visit for the first time during February 2026 congressional testimony.

Documented Contact (Internet Research, Feb 2026)

  • December 2012: Lutnick's family β€” including his wife, four children, and nannies β€” visited Epstein's private island (Little Saint James, US Virgin Islands).
  • This visit contradicted his prior claim of having cut ties with Epstein in 2005 β€” the island visit occurred seven years after his claimed cutoff.
  • He had a separate one-hour meeting with Epstein approximately a year and a half after the December 2012 island visit (approximately mid-2014).
  • He publicly confirmed the island visit for the first time during February 2026 congressional testimony.

Allegations and Claims

  • The contradiction between his stated 2005 cutoff and the documented 2012 island visit (with his family, including children) is the primary point of controversy.
  • The fact that the visit included his children and nannies has been cited both as evidence that he saw the island as a legitimate social venue and as raising questions about judgment.
  • No victim has made direct allegations of criminal conduct against Lutnick in connection with the visit.

This Individual's Response

  • Commerce Department statement: "Secretary Lutnick had limited interactions with Mr. Epstein in the presence of his wife and has never been accused of wrongdoing."
  • He publicly confirmed the island visit during his February 2026 congressional testimony β€” the first time he had done so.
  • Currently serving as US Secretary of Commerce.
  • No charges or investigations publicly announced.

Key Claims for DOJ Evidence Cross-Reference

  • Claim A: Lutnick's family visited Epstein's private island in December 2012 β€” contradicting his prior claim of cutting ties in 2005.
  • Claim B: The December 2012 visit included Lutnick's wife, four children, and nannies.
  • Claim C: Lutnick had a one-hour meeting with Epstein approximately a year and a half after the island visit (approximately mid-2014).
  • Claim D: Lutnick publicly confirmed the island visit for the first time during February 2026 congressional testimony.

DOJ File Evidence

Claim A β€” Family visited Epstein's private island in December 2012 (contradicting 2005 cutoff claim)

Verdict: SUPPORTS

Multiple DOJ documents directly corroborate contact between Epstein and Lutnick during the December 2012 holiday period, centered on a visit to Little Saint James Island:

  • EFTA00401048 / EFTA00661560 / EFTA01915242 (November 20, 2012): Three copies of the same email from Lesley Groff (Epstein's personal assistant) to Howard Lutnick directly: "Jeffrey Epstein understands you will be down in St. Thomas some over the holidays. Jeffrey requested I please pass along some phone numbers to you so the two of you can possibly get together." The email shares contact numbers for Epstein's island caretakers and his St. Thomas office.
  • EFTA02151530 (December 20, 2012): Lesley Groff follows up with Lutnick's assistant Matthew Gilbert: "Jeffrey is asking if Howard and family could come to his island for lunch this Sat. or Sun....Jeffrey's island is Little St. James on the map, behind Christmas Cove." This email explicitly names Little Saint James Island as the destination and uses the phrase "Howard and family" β€” directly consistent with the reported December 2012 family visit.
  • EFTA02151240 (December 21, 2012): A further follow-up email in the same thread, sharing Epstein's personal cell number with Lutnick's team.

These documents demonstrate active coordination for a family visit to Little Saint James in late December 2012 β€” seven years after Lutnick claimed to have cut ties with Epstein in 2005. The DOJ files do not confirm whether the visit ultimately took place, but the invitation and logistics coordination are clearly documented.

Additional context β€” broader pattern of contact past 2005:

  • EFTA02438886 (October 19, 2009): A message to Epstein from Rich Barnett (Epstein's assistant) reads: "HOward Lutnick would like to speak to you...one of his employees asked me if Howard could have your number so he may call you." β€” indicating Lutnick was seeking contact with Epstein as early as October 2009.
  • EFTA01968336 (July 10, 2013): Epstein replies to an inquiry about Lutnick with the words "My neighbor smart" β€” describing Lutnick positively as his neighbor as late as July 2013, well after the claimed 2005 cutoff.
  • EFTA02519758 (July 10, 2013): The contemporaneous email to which Epstein replied: "What is your view on Howard Lutnick? Just met him with PA." β€” a third party was in contact with both men and was asking Epstein's assessment of Lutnick.
  • EFTA01249205 / EFTA00020515 (October 19, 2020): Two copies of an FBI intake report documenting a tip to the FBI's National Threat Operations Center. An anonymous caller (a former employee of a Cantor Fitzgerald subsidiary who worked in New York 2015–2017) reported that Howard Lutnick was Jeffrey Epstein's neighbor and alleged that suspicious financial activities at Cantor Fitzgerald might be related to Epstein's case. The caller also alleged the Cantor Fitzgerald 9/11 charity day was fraudulent. This is an unverified third-party tip, not an FBI finding.

Claim B β€” The December 2012 visit included Lutnick's wife, four children, and nannies

Verdict: SUPPORTS (partial)

The DOJ documents do not confirm the specific composition of the party (wife, four children, nannies). However, the December 20, 2012 email (EFTA02151530) explicitly uses the phrase "Howard and family" when Lesley Groff asks Lutnick's assistant whether Howard and his family could visit the island for lunch. This is consistent with Lutnick's own later congressional confirmation that his family made the trip.

Claim C β€” Lutnick had a one-hour meeting with Epstein approximately mid-2014

Verdict: NOT FOUND

No DOJ documents were found specifically documenting a one-hour meeting between Lutnick and Epstein in approximately mid-2014. This claim originates from Lutnick's own statements (reportedly made during or around his February 2026 congressional testimony) and is not independently corroborated in the DOJ corpus. The DOJ files show active contact through at least July 2013 (see Claim A above), consistent with the general timeline, but the specific 2014 meeting is not documented.

Claim D β€” Lutnick publicly confirmed the island visit for the first time during February 2026 congressional testimony

Verdict: NOT FOUND (expected)

Congressional testimony from February 2026 falls outside the scope of the DOJ Epstein Files corpus. The DOJ files predate this testimony. The claim is from internet reporting of the Senate confirmation hearings, not from DOJ documents.

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