Oversight Democrats call on Sec. Lutnick to resign over Epstein testimony

[0:00] You're seeing a massive media stakeout outside the room where Howard Lutnick, the Commerce Secretary, [0:06] is sitting for a transcribed interview with members of the House Oversight Committee [0:10] as part of their ongoing investigation into Jeffrey Epstein and anybody who had a connection to him. [0:19] So, oh, here we go. We've got Democrats coming in here. Let's see if they talk. [0:23] So let's go ahead and pull the audio up and listen live. [0:26] Well, now we know why that interview was not videotaped. [0:41] If Donald Trump had seen the video transcript, he would have fired Howard Lutnick. [0:48] It was really embarrassing. [0:51] He was asked very straightforward questions about whether he regretted misleading the American people. [0:59] I mean, he said that he would never see Epstein again in 2005. [1:05] And everyone knows that he took his wife and kids to see Epstein in 2012. [1:10] And yet it was just contortions and lies and no acknowledgement that he misled the American public. [1:17] And if you saw the exchanges that my colleagues had with him, you would see he made a force of the English language. [1:25] I mean, he was trying to define I as if saying that what he really meant is that he would not see Epstein alone, [1:37] but would be totally fine with having his wife and kids see Epstein. [1:41] It made no sense. [1:42] And then he's raised even more serious concerns about the investigation. [1:47] He originally had said that Epstein engaged in blackmail and recorded videotapes. [1:55] Now he's saying, well, he was wrong. [1:57] He was just speculating. [1:58] And Epstein actually didn't engage in blackmailing. [2:02] This raises the question of what the cover up is. [2:04] Did someone tell him to say that? [2:06] I've not heard that he is, that Epstein never engaged in blackmail. [2:11] Why is Howard Lutnick changing his testimony, changing his story? [2:16] He's lost all credibility. [2:18] And really, it's a shame that the American people don't get to see what he did there. [2:24] Total lack of truth and lack of honesty. [2:29] I agree. [2:30] Howard Lutnick should resign. [2:32] That was absolutely mind-boggling, what we just heard in the room. [2:36] He was evasive, nervous. [2:38] He was dishonest. [2:39] He would not admit to lying, which he clearly did in the podcast. [2:43] He said he was never in the room with Jeffrey Epstein ever again after the first time he met him. [2:49] Yet, Ben admitted that he was in the room with Jeffrey Epstein. [2:53] I had to ask him whether he and I were in the same room just now. [2:55] Because I couldn't understand his meaning of we were in the same room together. [2:59] And then he said that Jeffrey Epstein was a sick man, that he would never want to be in the room with him again. [3:07] Yet, he was in the room with him again when he visited his island where Jeffrey Epstein raped women, underage women. [3:15] And he brought his kids and his friends with him to that island when he met with Jeffrey Epstein. [3:20] He said he never met with Jeffrey Epstein again socially. [3:23] Yet, he admits that that was a social visit to his island. [3:27] And so, he was clearly being dishonest. [3:28] He was clearly being evasive. [3:31] And finally, he doesn't remember why he went to Jeffrey Epstein's island, which is also mind-boggling. [3:35] He somehow remembers going to the island after pictures surfaced of him being at the island. [3:40] But he doesn't remember why he went to the island. [3:43] And we had the emails. [3:44] That's why we found out he was at the island. [3:46] This is absolutely absurd, and he should resign. [3:51] Good afternoon, Congresswoman Ansari from Arizona's 3rd District. [3:55] After what we have seen so far in this transcribed interview, I feel very comfortable saying that Howard Lutnick is a pathological liar who is enabling the most egregious cover-up in American history. [4:08] We have now gone through the timeline of events with him in detail, an excruciating detail, from when they met in 2005. [4:18] This is Howard Lutnick and his wife meeting Jeffrey Epstein. [4:22] He described it himself in great detail on a podcast last year where he said that they went to his home, they took a tour, and allegedly were so uncomfortable after seeing the massage tables in Jeffrey Epstein's home [4:35] that Howard Lutnick went on on this podcast to tell the American people that he himself, and my colleagues referenced the definitions he tried to change of what he meant there. [4:46] But he said that he would never socially or professionally be involved or be in a room with Jeffrey Epstein again. [4:54] Then in 2012, he took his family and his staff to Jeffrey Epstein's island. [5:00] I focus my questions today on how he could have done that if him and his wife were truly so uncomfortable, especially when in 2008, we know that Jeffrey Epstein was accused and the sweetheart deal took place for soliciting a minor. [5:18] Howard Lutnick tried to tell us in that room that he essentially didn't know any of that. [5:23] I asked him, how did I, as a child at the time, see this all over the media about Jeffrey Epstein, and you, an adult who was this person's neighbor who had engaged with him before, how could you possibly not have known? [5:35] I mean, the level of the lies that are taking place inside that room without video is unbelievable and part of this egregious cover-up. [5:45] I recommend that every single American, when this interview is released, read the document in full. [5:52] You will see Howard Lutnick use phrases like how it's inexplicable and unsettling that he went to the island. [6:00] That's how he defines it himself. [6:02] It's inexplicable how this happened. [6:05] He also tries to define all of their interactions as, quote-unquote, meaningless and inconsequential. [6:11] I think he's used those terms about 20 times so far and continues to use them. [6:16] So I will just end by saying that there are real victims here. [6:21] There are potentially over 1,000 women who were abused and raped when they were children. [6:28] And even at the bare minimum, Howard Lutnick was aware of these things. [6:33] He knew it just demonstrates the culture of enabling these crimes and allowing rich and powerful people [6:40] like Jeffrey Epstein and all of the other disgusting, rich and powerful men who committed these crimes to continue [6:47] because people like Howard Lutnick knew these things were happening because they were all over the news [6:52] and continued to engage and legitimize somebody like Jeffrey Epstein. [6:58] Earlier today, Chairman Comer said that he hadn't seen any evidence of wrongdoing by Secretary Lutnick. [7:06] And that's actually the problem with the Trump administration, this Republican majority in Congress, [7:10] because lying to the American people is wrongdoing. [7:14] And Howard Lutnick lied to the American people. [7:16] I hope today that we would have heard some remorse, some contrition from Secretary Lutnick [7:23] for flat-out lying to the American people. [7:26] Instead, what we've heard thus far is hours of testimony [7:30] where he's attempting to redefine the meaning of the word I. [7:35] He claims that when he said, I would never be in a room again with Jeffrey Epstein, [7:41] he meant only him and Jeffrey Epstein. [7:44] Epstein was so gross to him, so disgusting, that he wasn't willing to be in a room with him, [7:53] but he was perfectly okay with his wife and family being in a room with Epstein. [7:59] He's lying. [8:00] And today's transcribed interview is part of the ongoing cover-up [8:04] because the American people deserve to see the video of what's taking place in there. [8:10] They deserve to see the sweat on the Secretary's brow [8:13] as he struggles to answer basic questions about his lies to the American people. [8:18] So we're going to continue to listen and ask tough questions, [8:23] but unfortunately it appears that Secretary Lutnick is not going to take any responsibility [8:27] for lying to the American people today. [8:29] Can you explain for just a moment when you talked about the trip, [8:32] and I'm happy to ask this to interview you, [8:35] can you explain for a moment when they took the trip on the boat [8:38] and you're saying that he's saying, oh, we were okay doing that, [8:41] but he didn't want to be in the same room with him, [8:44] characterize what his remarks were, his response. [8:46] He said, wait a minute, isn't this inconsistent with this travel? [8:49] If you're uncomfortable with being with this person? [8:52] We asked him over and over again, why did you go to the island? [8:57] He says he doesn't remember. That is inexplicable. [9:00] And he simply didn't know how to answer the question at that point. [9:04] That's right. [9:05] Can I follow him on the island? [9:06] On the island, did he say that he saw anything from his time there [9:10] that now, in retrospect, raises alarm about Epstein's activities on the island? [9:15] And he mentioned in his 2005 visit Epstein's apartment [9:18] that he saw massage tables that made him uncomfortable. [9:20] Did he see anything in his time on the island? [9:24] Did he mention any specifics about what he saw there? [9:26] Those questions were specifically asked by the majority during the first hour, [9:31] and he said no to all of it. [9:33] And also, it's important to note, he could remember nothing about the visit to the island. [9:40] Couldn't remember why he was there. [9:42] Couldn't remember anything he saw. [9:44] Apparently, he could remember in great detail the 2005 visit to the townhouse [9:50] and the massage tables that were there. [9:52] Now, 2005 is seven years before 2012, [9:56] so his memory was sharp with respect to 2005, [10:00] but dull with respect to 2012 and the visit to the island. [10:02] And this is why this is such a cover-up. [10:06] I mean, he refused to say there was any blackmailing, [10:11] even though he thought that happened in the past. [10:13] He refused to say that there was any video recording, [10:16] even though he said in the past that Epstein was video recording these young girls. [10:20] He refused to say anything abnormal about Epstein's island. [10:24] So someone obviously got to him from the administration. [10:27] In fact, he said he talked to people in the administration, [10:29] and that's why he's changed his tune. [10:31] And the question is not just why he's lying. [10:34] The question is why he's covering up, [10:36] why he's no longer willing to share what he knows about Epstein's abhorrent behavior. [10:41] Does the secretary indicate he talked to President Trump ahead of this interview? [10:46] Did he talk to people in the Trump administration? [10:48] He said he did not talk to President Trump. [10:49] Why do you think Secretary Lutnick agreed to appear voluntarily? [10:53] Did he address that at all? [10:54] It is significant that he's the only cabinet secretary that has him here. [10:59] Well, he didn't want to be subpoenaed. [11:01] I mean, he knew that we have the Republican votes to subpoena him, [11:05] just like we did with Pam Bondi. [11:08] It's the first time that a cabinet member has been subpoenaed. [11:11] What I expected, honestly, I expected him to say, [11:14] well, you know, I regret what I said on the podcast. [11:17] I should have been transparent about this incident with the family. [11:22] Nothing happened that was terrible. [11:25] But you know what? [11:25] I should have had better judgment. [11:27] And here are the things I know about Epstein. [11:30] He was a disgusting person. [11:31] Let me try to help in the investigation. [11:33] He did none of that. [11:34] Can I ask two questions, a follow-up on what you just said, Congressman McConnell? [11:37] You mentioned that he spoke to members of the administration and then he changed his tune. [11:41] Did he say who exactly he spoke to and when he spoke to them? [11:44] You want to take that? [11:45] You want to ask that question? [11:46] Sure. [11:46] He could not recall who he spoke to in the administration. [11:50] It's also important to note he was asked by a number of us if he spoke to President Trump [11:55] about today's testimony and he refused to answer that question. [11:59] He did say he didn't speak to President Trump or Donald Trump when he was not president, [12:04] but he would not answer the question as to whether he spoke to President Trump about today's testimony. [12:09] And then secondly, the secretary had told you guys that he found the invitation to the island [12:14] to be unsettling. [12:15] How his assistant knew that he was in the U.S. Virgin Islands. [12:19] Did he talk about why he accepted an unsettling invitation? [12:23] This is what I was asking during my line of questioning. [12:26] Why did you go when you were so clear on this podcast and you've described in great detail [12:32] that you and your wife were so alarmed by this person and did not want to ever be in a room [12:37] with him and to the point of the statement that he had made. [12:39] I mean, they were very clear statements that I would never in a social, professional setting [12:45] and be in a room with this person. [12:47] And then we later got him to admit that visiting someone's island and having lunch with them [12:52] is in fact considered a social situation. [12:56] And so, no, he would not. [12:57] And I find that extremely unbelievable. [13:00] I mean, I think of all of the depositions that we have done so far, I find Howard Lutnik to [13:06] be the least credible with the way that he just refuses to acknowledge how misleading his [13:11] statements were. [13:12] I mean, quite frankly, he lied in the podcast, but he refuses to acknowledge that. [13:17] He still is trying to stand by the fact that he was truthful in those statements. [13:22] Behind you, behind you, did the secretary, I haven't gotten a question yet, sorry. [13:26] Did the secretary indicate whether or not he had had any business dealings with Jeffrey Epstein [13:31] and more specifically whether they invested in the same company? [13:35] Yeah, the Republicans asked that in the first hour. [13:40] He did admit that a subsidiary of his company was invested in a company that Jeffrey Epstein [13:47] was invested in as well. [13:48] And they did have an email exchange about that. [13:50] And then as Democrats, are you all planning to do anything to compel the secretary's testimony [13:55] on camera going further since you don't seem satisfied that this was- [13:59] That may be coming, but well, stay tuned. [14:02] You've said that you believe that he's covering up. [14:10] Do you have any indication or in your questioning, were you able to zero in, or perhaps you've [14:15] seen in the documents, who you believe he's covering up for and how extensive that cover-up [14:20] is? [14:21] I think he's covering up for the administration. [14:23] And let me give the exact exchange that and Representative Alconchuk can elaborate on [14:28] it because he really drilled down on it. [14:30] First, Secretary Lutnick said on the podcast that there was blackmail going on, right? [14:36] Then he says to my inquiry, well, no, no, no, I was just speculating. [14:40] I said, well, what was your basis for speculating? [14:42] Well, I didn't have any basis. [14:44] I take it back. [14:45] You know, it seems like this is the administration's modus operandi, just speculate with no basis. [14:49] But here, he's saying, okay, I take it back. [14:51] So then I said, well, why did you take it back? [14:53] Well, I talked to administration officials. [14:56] Then Representative Wilkinshire said, well, who did you talk to? [14:59] And he says, well, no, no, no, I just learned about this in public. [15:03] I didn't talk to the administration officials. [15:05] Well, Massey and I have been doing this and all of us have been doing this for months. [15:09] I've never seen a single public statement that there was no blackmail. [15:13] So the question is, why is he changing his tune? [15:15] Who is getting to him in the administration to basically have him say nothing was wrong? [15:22] Let's move on. [15:22] That's what he was saying. [15:24] I think you nailed it. [15:26] That's good. [15:26] Representative Donovan, the Justice Department last July said that there was no blackmail in its memo. [15:31] So why do you keep saying that there was no blackmail said by the administration? [15:35] We have not. [15:36] We have not. [15:37] That is not what the survivors believe. [15:40] That is not what the testimony has been of other individuals. [15:44] And there has not been investigation of people like Les Wexner or people like Leon Black and many other people. [15:52] That's why we're calling for investigations. [15:55] And he certainly did not reference that memorandum. [15:58] What changes with regard, if this investigation is continuing, [16:03] what do you see changes with regard to this investigation and how you get more answers should the Democrats win? [16:10] Well, for starters, these interviews are going to be on video, [16:15] and we're going to make sure that the American people get to see what we got to saw as legislators today. [16:20] We're going to be completely transparent and honest when it comes to this investigation. [16:24] So to be clear, you're going to try to have him come in again and try to maybe do this under a subpoena, [16:31] which we can tell you. [16:31] I said generally that we're going to make sure that these types of interviews are on video [16:36] and that the American people get to see them. [16:38] So not him again, just in the future? [16:39] I'm not ruling out him again. [16:40] I'm just saying generally. [16:42] Can we get your reaction on something else? [16:44] On the other investigation dealing with the D.C. [16:46] and the investigation with the police department, [16:49] nine officers have now been put on leave or an investigation. [16:54] Just want to get your thoughts on that investigation and where we're at on it. [16:58] That's a great question for another day. [16:59] I think that was the last question. [17:00] I just wanted to see what... [17:01] Thank you. [17:02] Thank you. [17:03] That was good. [17:05] What a chicken ship move. [17:07] All right. [17:13] As you see, they're listening in to some of those Democratic lawmakers taking questions [17:17] about the testimony that Howard Lutnick, of course, he is the Commerce Secretary that he made today, [17:24] and behind the closed door seating in front of some of those members of Congress, [17:27] we wanted to make sure we were able to bring that to you here on Live Now from Fox, [17:31] continuing to watch the stakeout camera there as several other members who are inside of that meeting, [17:36] being able to hear some of that testimony, are likely to come outside and speak as well. [17:41] And so, once again, this is one of the major updates, things that we're following here on Live Now from Fox today. [17:47] In the meantime, I want to put this up on your screen from Chad Pergram there with Fox News, [17:51] as he's also following this, saying this, from the closed door interview with Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick [17:57] about his relationship with Jeffrey Epstein from a person familiar. [18:01] Quote, Jeffrey Epstein and Secretary Lutnick were neighbors from 2005 to 2019. [18:08] He purchased the property in 1997, but did not move in until those renovations were complete in 2005. [18:15] They had no personal or professional relationship. [18:19] Secretary Lutnick only had three meetings with Epstein. [18:22] Lutnick and his wife met Epstein at his home for coffee when they became neighbors. [18:27] It lasted about 10 to 15 minutes. [18:30] Lutnick stated that Epstein provided a short tour of his home, [18:34] and that's where they saw the massage table. [18:37] At that time, Lutnick decided that he did not want a personal or professional relationship with Epstein, [18:42] while the U.S. Virgin Islands with his family, Lutnick and his family, [18:47] were invited to Epstein's home for the lunch. [18:50] Lutnick did not know how Epstein's assistant knew he was in the U.S. Virgin Islands [18:55] and found that to be unsettling. [18:57] He had a short lunch with family and friends. [19:00] Epstein and Lutnick met one time to discuss scaffolding in Epstein's foyer. [19:05] He never saw Epstein with any young women [19:08] and never witnessed anything inappropriate with young women. [19:12] And again, that's from Chad Pergram. [19:13] Of course, we heard just a bit of the opposite from some of the Democrats [19:16] who were also inside of that meeting, [19:19] calling for Lutnick to step down from his position [19:22] due to some of these ties that he had at the time with Jeffrey Epstein. [19:28] And so again, this is the House Oversight Committee [19:30] that started this closed-door interview with him a few hours ago [19:33] as a part of the panel's inquiry into Epstein [19:37] and the federal government's handling of its investigation [19:40] into the disgraced financier. [19:42] I do want to put this back up on your screen, [19:44] another live vantage point that we have there of that stakeout camera [19:47] in case any other members of Congress decide to step up and walk there. [19:51] We do know that Representative Comer, the Republican from Kentucky [19:55] and committee's chairman, said that before the session, [19:59] he had expected those lawmakers and staff [20:02] to ask Lutnick about the timeline of his ties to Epstein, [20:05] including a visit to Epstein's private island, [20:08] which we just got some insight from Chad Pergram [20:10] into how that conversation went. [20:12] And so we did want to bring that to you here on Live Now from Fox. [20:15] There's a lot more to uncover. [20:17] And again, if any other details come out, [20:19] we'll bring them to you on air.