Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick appeared before the Senate Appropriations Committee on Tuesday and the House Appropriations Committee on Wednesday. At both hearings, lawmakers asked him about his relationship with Jeffrey Epstein. At both hearings, he refused to answer.
Not "declined to elaborate." Not "provided partial answers." Refused. Flat-out stonewalled every single question about the convicted sex offender he lived next door to, visited on his private island in 2012, and exchanged business emails with as recently as 2018 — despite telling Congress he cut ties in 2005.
Meanwhile, on the same day Lutnick was dodging questions at the House hearing, the DOJ's own Inspector General announced a formal audit into whether the Justice Department has actually complied with the Epstein Files Transparency Act. The law that Trump signed. The one that required the release of all DOJ files on Epstein. The one the DOJ blew past the deadline on. 155 days ago.
"I Have Nothing to Hide" — Then Why Won't You Answer?
At the Senate hearing on April 22, Senator Chris Van Hollen of Maryland reminded Lutnick that at his last appearance in February, he promised he had "nothing to hide" about his Epstein ties. Van Hollen and Senator Jeff Merkley subsequently sent Lutnick a letter on February 27 requesting documents and answers. They heard nothing.
“I assume that is still your testimony today. Is that right, Mr. Secretary?” Van Hollen asked. “That is right,” Lutnick replied. “So why have you not responded to the letter that Senator Merkley and I sent following up on the last hearing?”
Lutnick's answer: he'd be sitting down with a House committee "in less than two weeks." That didn't answer the Senate's question. Van Hollen: "We presented you with questions and requests from this committee that have not been responded to, so we're going to have to continue to pursue that."
The next day at the House hearing, it got worse. Rep. Grace Meng pressed Lutnick on why he claimed to have cut off contact with Epstein in 2005 despite evidence — from DOJ files — that he visited Epstein's private island in 2012 and exchanged emails as late as 2018. Lutnick repeated that he was there to discuss "the budget" and would address Epstein questions separately.
Rep. Madeleine Dean went further: "Why did you lie about your relationship with Jeffrey Epstein?" Lutnick refused to respond. Dean: "Let the record reflect — you're dodging the question. The cover-up continues."
The DOJ's Watchdog Has Seen Enough
On April 23, Acting Inspector General William Blier announced the DOJ Office of the Inspector General is launching a formal audit of DOJ's compliance with the Epstein Files Transparency Act. The announcement follows a December letter from 11 Democratic senators and one Republican — Lisa Murkowski — requesting exactly this.
1. How the DOJ identified, collected, and produced responsive material under the Act.
2. DOJ guidance and processes for redacting and withholding material — and whether those processes followed the Act's requirements.
3. How DOJ handled post-release publication concerns.
Result: A public report will be issued when the audit is complete.
This matters because Acting AG Todd Blanche has repeatedly claimed the DOJ complied with the law — even while acknowledging that millions of additional pages remain withheld that he says aren't relevant. Critics have accused the DOJ of over-redacting information related to Trump while failing to protect victims' identities in other documents. The law had a 30-day deadline. They blew past it.
Bloomberg Law noted this is "the DOJ watchdog's rare involvement in politically sensitive matters tied to Trump administration leadership." Translation: the IG is investigating whether the people running the DOJ are following a law the president himself signed. That's how bad this has gotten.
The Pattern Is the Point
Step back and look at what's happening. Trump signed the Epstein Files Transparency Act. His DOJ — led by his personal former defense lawyer — has dragged its feet on releasing the files, over-redacted documents, and claims it complied while withholding millions of pages. His Commerce Secretary lived next door to Epstein, visited his island years after Epstein was convicted of soliciting a minor, and now refuses to answer congressional questions about it.
And the DOJ files that have been released show that Lutnick's public claims about cutting ties with Epstein in 2005 were demonstrably false. Senator Merkley identified eight instances where DOJ documents suggest Lutnick interacted with Epstein after 2005. Lutnick's response in February: "That was probably not a full and complete accounting." His response this week: nothing.
The guy who says he has nothing to hide won't answer a single question. The department that says it complied with the law is being investigated by its own watchdog. The president who signed the Transparency Act installed the people who are obstructing it. And 155 days later, the public still doesn't have the full files.
Lutnick is expected to face "more direct questioning" in May when he appears before a separate House committee. Given his track record, expect more of the same: "I have nothing to hide, and I will answer nothing."
Sources
- DOJ Office of the Inspector General: Formal announcement of audit into DOJ compliance with Epstein Files Transparency Act. Acting IG William Blier. Will evaluate identification, collection, production, redaction processes. Public report forthcoming. April 23, 2026.
- ABC News: DOJ watchdog launching audit after "growing criticism from lawmakers." Blanche has "stated repeatedly that the DOJ has complied" while acknowledging "millions of more pages" withheld. Follows request from 11 Democratic senators and Murkowski. April 23, 2026.
- Bloomberg Law: "DOJ watchdog's rare involvement in politically sensitive matters tied to Trump administration leadership." Blier will evaluate methods of "identifying, redacting, and releasing records." Triggered by December letter from 12 senators. April 23, 2026.
- Fox News: Lutnick "repeatedly shut down questions" at House Appropriations hearing April 23. Rep. Meng pressed on island visit in 2012 and emails through 2018. Rep. Dean: "Why did you lie?" Lutnick: "Today I am here to testify about the budget." April 23, 2026.
- Forbes Breaking News / Senate Hearing Video: Van Hollen confronts Lutnick at Senate Appropriations hearing April 22. Lutnick failed to respond to February 27 letter from Van Hollen and Merkley. Lutnick says he has "nothing to hide" but won't produce documents. April 22, 2026.
- Washington Times: DOJ IG promised public report. DOJ "blew past the deadline" and "came under fire for over-redacting some information." Hundreds of employees assigned to file review. April 23, 2026.