House Oversight Dems React To Howard Lutnick's Epstein Testimony: 'He Should Resign'

[0:08] Well, now we know why that interview was not videotaped. [0:13] If Donald Trump had seen the video transcript, he would have fired Howard Lutnick. [0:20] It was really embarrassing. [0:23] He was asked very straightforward questions about whether he regretted misleading the American people. [0:31] I mean, he said that he would never see Epstein again in 2005. [0:37] And everyone knows that he took his wife and kids to see Epstein in 2012. [0:42] And yet it was just contortions and lies and no acknowledgment that he misled the American public. [0:49] And if you saw the exchanges that my colleagues had with him, you would see he made a force of the English language. [0:58] I mean, he was trying to define I as if saying that what he really meant is that he, [1:07] he would not see Epstein alone, but would be totally fine with having his wife and kids see Epstein. [1:13] It made no sense. [1:15] And then he's raised even more serious concerns about the investigation. [1:19] He originally had said that Epstein engaged in blackmail and recorded videotapes. [1:27] Now he's saying, well, he was wrong. [1:29] He was just speculating and Epstein actually didn't engage in blackmailing. [1:34] This raises the question of what the cover-up is. [1:37] Did someone tell him to say that? [1:39] I've not heard that he is, that Epstein never engaged in blackmail. [1:44] Why is Howard Lutnick changing his testimony, changing his story? [1:48] He's lost all credibility, and really it's a shame that the American people don't get to see what he did there, [1:56] total lack of truth and lack of honesty. [2:01] I agree. [2:03] Howard Lutnick should resign. [2:04] That was absolutely mind-boggling what we just heard in the room. [2:08] He was evasive, nervous. [2:10] He was dishonest. [2:11] He would not admit to lying, which he clearly did in the podcast. [2:15] He said he was never in the room with Jeffrey Epstein ever again after the first time he met him, [2:22] yet Ben admitted that he was in the room with Jeffrey Epstein. [2:25] I had to ask him whether he and I were in the same room just now [2:28] because I couldn't understand his meaning of we were in the same room together. [2:32] And then he said that Jeffrey Epstein was a sick man, [2:37] that he would never want to be in the room with him again, [2:40] yet he was in the room with him again when he visited his island [2:43] where Jeffrey Epstein raped women, underage women, [2:47] and he brought his kids and his friends with him to that island [2:50] when he met with Jeffrey Epstein. [2:53] He said he never met with Jeffrey Epstein again socially, [2:56] yet he admits that that was a social visit to his island. [2:59] And so he was clearly being dishonest. [3:01] He was clearly being evasive. [3:03] And finally, he doesn't remember why he went to Jeffrey Epstein's island, [3:07] which is also mind-boggling. [3:08] He somehow remembers going to the island after pictures surfaced [3:11] of him being at the island. [3:13] But he doesn't remember why he went to the island. [3:16] We had the emails. [3:16] That's why we found out he was at the island. [3:19] This is absolutely absurd, and he should resign. [3:24] Good afternoon. [3:25] Congresswoman Ansari from Arizona's 3rd District. [3:28] After what we have seen so far in this transcribed interview, [3:32] I feel very comfortable saying that Howard Lutnick [3:35] is a pathological liar who is enabling [3:38] the most egregious cover-up in American history. [3:41] We have now gone through the timeline of events with him [3:45] in detail, an excruciating detail, [3:48] from when they met in 2005. [3:51] This is Howard Lutnick and his wife meeting Jeffrey Epstein. [3:55] He described it himself in great detail on a podcast last year [3:59] where he said that they went to his home, [4:01] they took a tour, [4:02] and allegedly were so uncomfortable after seeing the massage tables [4:06] in Jeffrey Epstein's home [4:07] that Howard Lutnick went on on this podcast [4:10] to tell the American people [4:11] that he himself, [4:13] and my colleagues referenced the definitions [4:16] he tried to change of what he meant there, [4:19] but he said that he would never socially or professionally [4:22] be involved or be in a room with Jeffrey Epstein again. [4:26] Then in 2012, [4:29] he took his family and his staff [4:31] to Jeffrey Epstein's island. [4:33] I focused my questions today on how he could have done that [4:37] if him and his wife were truly so uncomfortable, [4:40] especially when in 2008, [4:42] we know that Jeffrey Epstein was accused [4:46] and the sweetheart deal took place for soliciting a minor. [4:50] Howard Lutnick tried to tell us in that room [4:53] that he essentially didn't know any of that. [4:55] I asked him, [4:56] how did I as a child at the time [4:58] see this all over the media about Jeffrey Epstein [5:01] and you, an adult who was this person's neighbor [5:04] who had engaged with him before, [5:06] how could you possibly not have known? [5:08] I mean, the level of the lies that are taking place [5:11] inside that room without video [5:13] is unbelievable [5:15] and part of this egregious cover-up. [5:18] I recommend that every single American, [5:20] when this interview is released, [5:22] read the document in full. [5:24] You will see Howard Lutnick use phrases like [5:27] how it's inexplicable and unsettling [5:31] that he went to the island. [5:32] That's how he defines it himself. [5:34] It's inexplicable how this happened. [5:37] He also tries to define all of their interactions [5:40] as quote-unquote meaningless and inconsequential. [5:43] I think he's used those terms about 20 times so far [5:47] and continues to use them. [5:49] So I will just end by saying [5:51] that there are real victims here. [5:54] There are potentially over a thousand women [5:57] who were abused and raped when they were children. [6:00] And even at the bare minimum, [6:03] Howard Lutnick was aware of these things. [6:06] He knew. [6:07] It just demonstrates the culture [6:08] of enabling these crimes [6:10] and allowing rich and powerful people [6:13] like Jeffrey Epstein [6:14] and all of the other disgusting, rich and powerful men [6:17] who committed these crimes to continue [6:19] because people like Howard Lutnick [6:21] knew these things were happening [6:23] because they were all over the news [6:24] and continued to engage and legitimize [6:27] somebody like Jeffrey Epstein. [6:31] Earlier today, Chairman Comer said [6:33] that he hadn't seen any evidence [6:34] of wrongdoing by Secretary Lutnick. [6:38] And that's actually the problem [6:40] with the Trump administration, [6:41] this Republican majority in Congress [6:42] because lying to the American people [6:44] is wrongdoing. [6:46] And Howard Lutnick lied to the American people. [6:48] I hope today that we would have heard [6:51] some remorse, some contrition [6:54] from Secretary Lutnick [6:55] for flat-out lying to the American people. [6:59] Instead, what we've heard thus far [7:00] is hours of testimony [7:02] where he's attempting to redefine [7:05] the meaning of the word I. [7:07] He claims that when he said [7:09] I would never be in a room again [7:11] with Jeffrey Epstein, [7:13] he meant only him and Jeffrey Epstein. [7:17] Epstein was so gross to him, [7:19] so disgusting [7:21] that he wasn't willing [7:24] to be in a room with him, [7:25] but he was perfectly okay [7:27] with his wife and family [7:28] being in a room with Epstein. [7:31] He's lying. [7:33] And today's transcribed interview [7:35] is part of the ongoing cover-up [7:36] because the American people [7:38] deserve to see the video [7:41] of what's taking place in there. [7:42] They deserve to see the sweat [7:44] on the Secretary's brow [7:46] as he struggles to answer basic questions [7:48] about his lies to the American people. [7:51] So we're going to continue [7:52] to listen and ask tough questions, [7:55] but unfortunately it appears [7:56] that Secretary Lutnick [7:58] is not going to take any responsibility [7:59] for lying to the American people today. [8:02] Can you explain for just a moment [8:03] when you talked about the trip, [8:05] and I'm happy to ask this to interview, [8:08] can you explain for a moment [8:09] when they took the trip on the boat [8:10] and you're saying that he's saying, [8:12] oh, we were okay doing that, [8:14] but he didn't want to be [8:14] in the same room with him, [8:15] characterized what his remarks were, [8:18] or his response when he said, [8:19] wait a minute, [8:19] isn't this inconsistent with this travel [8:21] if you're uncomfortable [8:22] with being with this person? [8:24] We asked him over and over again, [8:27] why did you go to the island? [8:29] He says he doesn't remember, [8:31] that is inexplicable, [8:33] and he simply didn't know [8:34] how to answer the question at that point. [8:37] That's right. [8:37] Can I follow up on the island? [8:38] Yeah. [8:39] On the island, [8:39] did he say that he saw anything [8:41] from his time there [8:43] that now in retrospect [8:44] raises alarm about Epstein's activities [8:47] on the island? [8:48] And he mentioned in his 2005 [8:49] visit Epstein's apartment [8:51] that he saw massage tables [8:52] that made him uncomfortable. [8:53] Did he see anything [8:54] in his time on the island [8:56] and he mentioned any specifics [8:57] about what he saw there? [8:59] Those questions were specifically asked [9:02] by the majority during the first hour, [9:03] and he said no to all of it. [9:06] And also, it's important to note, [9:08] he could remember nothing [9:10] about the visit to the island. [9:13] Couldn't remember why he was there, [9:15] couldn't remember anything he saw. [9:17] Apparently, he could remember [9:18] in great detail the 2005 visit [9:21] to the townhouse [9:23] and the massage tables [9:24] that were there. [9:25] Now, 2005 is seven years before 2012, [9:29] so his memory was sharp [9:30] with respect to 2005, [9:32] but dull with respect to 2012 [9:34] and the visit to the island. [9:35] And this is why this is such a cover-up. [9:38] I mean, he refused to say [9:42] there was any blackmailing, [9:43] even though he thought [9:44] that happened in the past. [9:46] He refused to say [9:46] that there was any video recording, [9:48] even though he said in the past [9:50] that Epstein was video recording [9:52] these young girls. [9:53] He refused to say anything abnormal [9:55] about Epstein's island. [9:56] So someone obviously got to him [9:58] from the administration. [9:59] In fact, he said [10:00] he talked to people [10:01] in the administration, [10:02] and that's why he's changed his tune. [10:04] And the question is not just [10:05] why he's lying. [10:06] The question is [10:07] why he's covering up, [10:08] why he's no longer willing [10:10] to share what he knows [10:12] about Epstein's abhorrent behavior. [10:14] Does the secretary indicate [10:16] that he talked to President Trump [10:17] ahead of this interview? [10:19] Did they talk to people [10:19] in the Trump administration? [10:20] He said he did not talk [10:21] to President Trump. [10:22] Why do you think [10:22] Secretary Lutnik agreed [10:24] to appear voluntarily? [10:26] Did he address that at all? [10:27] It is significant [10:28] that he's the only cabinet secretary [10:29] that has appeared to this. [10:31] Well, he didn't want to be subpoenaed. [10:33] I mean, he knew that we have [10:35] the Republican votes [10:36] to subpoena him, [10:38] just like we did [10:39] with Pam Bondi. [10:40] It's the first time [10:41] that a cabinet member [10:43] has been subpoenaed. [10:44] What I expected, [10:45] honestly, I expected him to say, [10:47] well, you know, [10:47] I regret what I said [10:48] on the podcast. [10:49] I should have been transparent [10:52] about this incident [10:53] with the family. [10:55] Nothing happened [10:56] that was terrible. [10:57] But you know what? [10:58] I should have had [10:58] better judgment. [11:00] And here are the things [11:01] I know about Epstein. [11:02] He was a disgusting [11:03] person. [11:04] Let me try to help [11:05] in the investigation. [11:06] He did none of that. [11:07] Two questions. [11:08] A follow-up on what you just said, [11:09] Congressman McConaughey. [11:10] You mentioned that he spoke [11:11] to members of the administration [11:12] and then he changed his tune. [11:13] Did he say who exactly he spoke to [11:15] and when he spoke to them? [11:17] You want to take that? [11:17] You asked that question. [11:18] Yeah, sure. [11:20] He could not recall [11:21] who he spoke to [11:22] in the administration. [11:23] It's also important to note [11:24] he was asked by a number of us [11:25] if he spoke to President Trump [11:27] about today's testimony [11:29] and he refused to answer [11:30] that question. [11:31] He did say he didn't speak [11:33] to President Trump [11:33] or Donald Trump [11:34] when he was not president, [11:36] but he would not answer [11:37] the question as to whether [11:38] he spoke to President Trump [11:40] about today's testimony. [11:42] And then secondly, [11:43] the secretary had told you guys [11:45] that he found the invitation [11:46] to the island [11:47] to be unsettling. [11:48] How his assistant knew [11:49] that he was in the U.S. [11:50] Virgin Islands. [11:51] Did he talk about [11:52] why he accepted [11:54] an unsettling invitation? [11:55] This is what I was asking [11:57] during my line of questioning. [11:59] Why did you go [12:00] when you were so clear [12:02] on this podcast [12:03] and you've described [12:04] in great detail [12:05] that you and your wife [12:06] were so alarmed by this person [12:08] and did not want to ever [12:09] be in a room with him [12:10] and to the point of the statement [12:11] that he had made. [12:12] I mean, they were very clear statements [12:15] that I would never [12:16] in a social, professional setting [12:18] be in a room with this person. [12:20] And then we later got him [12:21] to admit that visiting [12:23] someone's island [12:23] and having lunch with them [12:25] is in fact considered [12:26] a social situation. [12:28] And so, no, he would not. [12:30] And I find that [12:31] extremely unbelievable. [12:33] I mean, I think of all [12:34] of the depositions [12:35] that we have done so far, [12:37] I find Howard Lutnick [12:39] to be the least credible [12:40] with the way that he just [12:41] refuses to acknowledge [12:42] how misleading his statements were. [12:44] I mean, quite frankly, [12:46] he lied in the podcast. [12:48] But he refuses to acknowledge that. [12:50] He still is trying [12:51] to stand by the fact [12:52] that he was truthful [12:53] in those statements. [12:55] Behind you, behind you. [12:56] Did the secretary, [12:57] I haven't gotten a question yet, [12:58] sorry. [12:58] Did the secretary indicate [13:00] whether or not he had [13:01] had any business dealings [13:03] with Jeffrey Epstein [13:04] and more specifically [13:05] whether they invested [13:06] in the same company? [13:09] Yeah, the Republicans [13:10] asked that in the first hour. [13:13] He did admit that [13:14] a subsidiary of his company [13:17] was invested in a company [13:19] that Jeffrey Epstein [13:19] was invested in as well. [13:21] And they did have [13:22] an email exchange about that. [13:23] And then as Democrats, [13:24] are you all planning [13:25] to do anything [13:25] to compel the secretary's testimony [13:28] on camera going further [13:30] since you don't seem satisfied [13:31] that this was... [13:32] That may be coming, [13:33] but well, stay tuned. [13:34] Maybe I just might ask... [13:35] You said that you believe [13:42] that he's covering up. [13:43] Do you have any indication [13:44] when you're questioning, [13:45] were you able to zero in, [13:47] or perhaps you've seen [13:48] in the documents, [13:48] who you believe [13:49] he's covering up for [13:51] and how extensive [13:52] that cover-up is? [13:53] I think he's covering up [13:54] for the administration. [13:55] And let me give [13:56] the exact exchange [13:57] that Representative [13:58] Alconchuk can elaborate on it [14:00] because he really drilled down on it. [14:03] First, Secretary Lutnik said [14:05] on the podcast [14:06] that there was blackmail [14:08] going on, right? [14:09] Then he says to my inquiry, [14:10] well, no, no, no, [14:11] I was just speculating. [14:12] I said, well, [14:13] what was your basis [14:13] for speculating? [14:15] Well, I didn't have any basis. [14:16] I take it back. [14:18] You know, it seems like [14:18] this is the administration's [14:19] modus operandi, [14:20] just speculate with no basis. [14:22] But here, he's saying, [14:23] okay, I take it back. [14:24] So then I said, [14:25] well, why did you take it back? [14:26] Well, I talked [14:27] to administration officials. [14:29] Then Representative Alconchuk [14:30] asked him, [14:31] well, who did you talk to? [14:32] And he says, [14:33] well, no, no, no, [14:33] I just learned [14:34] about this in public. [14:36] I didn't talk [14:36] to the administration officials. [14:38] Well, Massey and I [14:39] have been doing this [14:40] and all of us [14:40] have been doing this [14:41] for months. [14:41] I've never seen [14:42] a single public statement [14:43] that there was no blackmail. [14:45] So the question is, [14:46] why is he changing his tune? [14:48] Who is getting to him [14:49] in the administration [14:50] to basically have him say [14:53] nothing was wrong? [14:54] Let's move on. [14:55] That's what he was [14:56] saying. [14:57] That's right. [14:57] I think you nailed it. [14:58] That's good. [14:59] Representative Donna, [15:00] the Justice Department [15:01] last July said [15:02] that there was no blackmail [15:03] in its memo. [15:04] So why do you keep saying [15:05] that there was no blackmail [15:06] said by the administration? [15:07] We have not. [15:08] We have not. [15:10] That is not what [15:11] the survivors believe. [15:12] That is not what [15:13] the testimony has been [15:15] of other individuals. [15:17] And there has not been [15:19] investigation of people [15:20] like Les Wexner [15:21] or people like Leon Black [15:23] and many other people. [15:24] That's why we're calling [15:25] for investigations. [15:27] And he certainly did not [15:29] reference that memorandum. [15:32] What changes with regard, [15:34] if this investigation [15:35] is continuing, [15:36] what do you see changes [15:37] with regard to this investigation [15:39] and how you get more answers [15:41] should the Democrats win? [15:43] Well, for starters, [15:44] these interviews [15:46] are going to be on video. [15:47] And we're going to make sure [15:48] that the American people [15:49] get to see what we got to saw [15:51] as legislators today. [15:52] We're going to be [15:53] completely transparent [15:54] and honest [15:55] when it comes [15:55] to this investigation. [15:56] So to be clear, [15:57] you're going to try [15:58] to have him come in again [16:00] and try to maybe [16:02] do this under a subpoena, [16:03] which we can tell you. [16:04] I said generally [16:05] that we're going to make sure [16:06] that these types of interviews [16:08] are on video [16:09] and that the American people [16:10] get to see them. [16:11] Just in the future. [16:12] I'm not ruling out him again. [16:13] I'm just saying generally. [16:14] Can we get your reaction [16:15] on something else? [16:16] On the other investigation [16:17] dealing with the D.C. [16:19] and the investigation [16:20] with the police department? [16:22] Nine officers have now been [16:23] put on leave [16:25] or an investigation. [16:26] Just want to get your thoughts [16:28] on that investigation [16:29] and where we're at on it. [16:30] That's a great question [16:31] for another day. [16:32] I think that was [16:32] the last question. [16:33] I just wanted to see what... [16:34] Thank you. [16:34] Thank you. [16:34] Thank you.