Epstein Case: US Commerce Secretary Lutnick Faces Pressure from Both Parties to Resign
US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick is facing pressure from both Democrats and Republicans to resign over allegations of concealing his long-term connection with Epstein.
US Commerce Secretary Lutnick is facing calls from both the Democratic and Republican parties for him to step down over his relationship with the late sex offender Epstein. On February 10, Lutnick tried to distance himself from Epstein, claiming he had "almost no connection" with him.
According to reports from Reuters and AFP, Lutnick once claimed that after an incident in 2005, he vowed never to be "in the same room" as Epstein.
However, in a large number of new documents related to Epstein released by the US Department of Justice in early January, emails showed that after Lutnick claimed to have cut ties with Epstein for many years, he apparently still visited Epstein's private island in 2012 and had lunch with him. In November 2015, an assistant of Epstein forwarded an invitation from Lutnick to Epstein to attend a fundraiser for Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton.
Democratic Senator Adam Schiff said on the 9th: "Lutnick has no right to be our Commerce Secretary; he should resign immediately." The day before, Republican Representative Thomas Massie told CNN that the Commerce Secretary "should just resign directly."
Lutnick denied on February 10 during a Senate hearing that he had been in contact with Epstein for 14 years, saying he had exchanged only 10 emails and met him three times. He explained that he had lunch with Epstein because his boat passed near Epstein's island, and added that his family was also present at the time.
That day, Lutnick told the Senate committee during questioning by Democratic Senator Chris Van Hollen: "I have no relationship with him. I have almost no connection with that person."
Source: rfi
Original: toutiao.com/article/1856804691883072/
Statement: This article represents the personal views of the author.