Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick’s Business Ties with Jeffrey Epstein Revealed

The U.S. Commerce Secretary, Howard Lutnick, has stated that his interactions with Jeffrey Epstein were limited, but recent documents suggest otherwise. These documents, part of the so-called Epstein files, indicate that both Lutnick and Epstein were involved in business dealings as recently as 2014.

In December 2012, Lutnick and Epstein signed on behalf of separate limited liability companies to acquire stakes in a now-defunct advertising technology firm named Adfin. The documents revealed Lutnick signed for CVAFH I, while Epstein signed on behalf of Southern Trust Company, Inc. Their signatures appeared on adjacent pages within the contract, which listed a total of nine shareholders.

Howard Lutnick, once the chairman of Cantor Fitzgerald, had resided next door to Epstein. Despite previously claiming in 2005 to have severed ties with Epstein, records show they engaged in communication about calls and scheduling interactions in 2011. Notably, in 2012, emails disclosed that Lutnick and his family planned a visit to Epstein’s island, Little St. James.

Their business agreement concerning Adfin was finalized on December 28, 2012, shortly after Lutnick’s visit to Epstein. A source close to Lutnick mentioned that Cantor Fitzgerald was a minority investor in Adfin and that Lutnick, as a minority investor, was unaware of other investors involved.

Further correspondence demonstrates continued interactions between the parties. On January 8, 2013, Epstein’s assistant forwarded a document to Lutnick regarding casino legislation in the U.S. Virgin Islands, where Epstein had business interests. A spokesperson for Lutnick stated that he ‘ignored the document sent to him.’

A representative of the Commerce Department, when approached for comments about these dealings, reiterated that the narrative is a distraction from the administration’s successful initiatives and confirmed that Lutnick’s interactions with Epstein were limited and in his wife’s presence.

The shareholders’ business discussions involved further fundraising attempts with Cantor Ventures as late as 2014. Additionally, in 1996, Epstein sold a property, later bought by Lutnick, situated next door to Epstein’s New York mansion.

By the time Lutnick and Epstein entered the Adfin agreement, Epstein had previously entered a guilty plea to Florida charges involving solicitation of minors in 2008. However, much later, in 2019, Epstein faced federal charges for trafficking and passed away in custody after his arrest.

In light of the Epstein documents’ release, Lutnick finds himself among a broad circle of global figures reassessing their associations with the disgraced financier. Correspondence from 2017 reveals Epstein arranged a $50,000 donation in honor of Lutnick’s dinner, opting not to attend himself but allowing Lutnick to fill the donor seats.

Their connection persisted into 2018, with Lutnick raising concerns to Epstein about a nearby art museum’s expansion plans, fearing it might obstruct views and sunlight, advising Epstein to take legal action.