Howard Lutnik: Donald Trump’s Secretary of Commerce drops bombshell Epstein claim on Miranda Devine podcast

One of US President Donald Trump’s cabinet members has publicly contradicted the Administration’s stance on Jeffrey Epstein, offering a far more damning account of the disgraced financier’s activities.

Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnik, a longtime businessman, made the explosive remarks during an appearance on Pod Force One, a podcast hosted by New York Post columnist Miranda Devine.

Mr Lutnik’s connection to Epstein is unusual but relevant: he was once the convicted sex offender’s neighbour.

Speaking to Devine, Mr Lutnik recounted a disturbing encounter in which Epstein invited him and his wife into his home. They couldn’t believe what they saw.

“He invites us in, we have coffee, and he says ‘do you want a tour?’” Mr Lutnik recalled.

“His house is super big... so he gives me a tour of the living room, big living room. Then across from it are double doors. I assume it’s the dining room. He opens the doors and there’s a massage table in the middle of the room and candles all around.”

When Mr Lutnick asked Epstein why there was a massage table in the centre of his house, Epstein allegedly boasted about receiving daily massages.

“He gets weirdly close to me and says ‘the right kind of massage’, Mr Lutnik said, to which Devine responded: “Ew”.

That was enough for the couple, who left the house immediately after those comments.

“My wife and I decided that I will never be in a room with that disgusting person ever again,” Mr Lutnik said.

“So I was never in the room with him socially, for business or even philanthropy. If that guy is there, I’m not going because he’s gross.”

Mr Lutnik didn’t stop there. When questioned on why other influential figures remained close with Epstein, he dropped another bombshell claim.

“That’s what his MO was. ‘Get a massage. Get a massage.’ And what happened in that massage room, I assume was on video,” Mr Lutnick said.

“This guy was the greatest blackmailer ever.”

Explaining his theory of what has happened to those videos, Mr Lutnik said: “I assume, way back when, they traded those videos in exchange for him getting that 18-month sentence, which allowed him to have visits, and be out of jail.”

“I mean, he’s a serial sex offender. How could he get 18 months, and be able to go to his office during the day, and have visitors and stuff? It must have been a trade.”

When asked whether Mr Trump was aware of the alleged blackmail material, Mr Lutnik remained tight-lipped.

The claims made by Mr Lutnik stand in stark contrast to the Trump Administration’s views on Epstein.

Mr Trump, who once campaigned on promises to release the Epstein files, has since dismissed the entire case as a “Democrat hoax”, downplaying both his past relationship with Epstein and newly released documents, including a controversial birthday note allegedly signed by the President.

While Mr Trump has not been accused of any wrongdoing, his ties to Epstein have come under renewed scrutiny.

FBI Director Kash Patel, who also previously demanded full transparency on the case, now insists there is “no credible information, none” to suggest Epstein trafficked girls to friends or associates.

Epstein was facing federal charges of sex-trafficking minors when he died in prison in 2019.

He had pleaded not guilty, and the case was formally closed almost three weeks after his death.