Howard Lutnick Faces Grilling Over Trip to Epstein's Private Island
Today in The Swamp: Wednesday, May 6
Wednesday, May 6, 2026
Howard Lutnick is not the most popular member of Donald Trump’s Cabinet, and West Wing insiders have been predicting his days as the president’s sucker-up-in-chief are numbered to The Swamp for months. But the commerce secretary is a survivor and old pals with the boss, so he has managed to evade the chop. But he might have trouble retaining his job after his testimony today to the House Oversight Committee investigating his links to Jeffrey Epstein.
Epstein’s former next-door neighbor in Manhattan has already admitted he visited the late predator’s private island after initially denying he was there. The photo evidence was included in a DOJ dump of Epstein files, so clearly, he no longer had the sway to keep it hidden.
Today’s testimony is behind closed doors, but it will be transcribed and members—especially the Democrats on the committee—are certain to give their verdicts on the hearing when they are done.
If it goes badly for Lutnick, he may be next out of the door. Or Trump will stick to form and choose another woman to fire.
