Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick believes that Jeffrey Epstein was part of a blackmail conspiracy, contradicting the findings of FBI director Kash Patel and other Trump administration figures.
During an appearance on the New York Post podcast Pod Force One, Lutnick, who was Epstein's neighbor, recalled a disturbing tour of Epstein's infamous New York mansion.
Lutnick said he quickly realized Epstein was bad news and vowed never to return after the financier showed him a massage room.
"And what happened in that massage room, I assume, was on video," he continued. "This guy was the greatest blackmailer ever, blackmailed people. That's how he had money."
Lutnick alleged that high-profile people who associated with Epstein, like Bill Gates and Prince Andrew, knew what Epstein was up to and "participated."
A spokesperson for Gates told The New York Post in a statement: “This is absolutely false. Gates met with Epstein to discuss philanthropy and nothing else.”
Gates was one of several powerful figures who continued to associate with Epstein even after he became a sex offender.
Lutnick's claims are at odds with the findings of the Justice Department, which concluded in July that Epstein died by suicide and did not have a "client list" of people who could face criminal charges.
Months later, Democrats are still hammering the controversy to accuse Trump and his White House of a sinister cover-up.
At a fiery congressional hearing in September, the FBI's Patel said there is "no credible evidence" that Epstein trafficked girls to anyone other than himself. Patel did not rule out the possibility of other people being involved in Epstein's crimes but insisted "all credible information" is already public.
"There is no credible information, none – if there were I would bring the case yesterday – that he trafficked to other individuals," Patel said.
Patel also cast blame at former federal prosecutor Alex Acosta, who reached a controversial plea deal with Epstein in 2008. Acosta's involvement was the "original sin" in the case, Patel said.
Acosta defended the plea agreement to lawmakers last month, citing problems with evidence that he said would have jeopardized a conviction.
Epstein was sentenced to 18 months but ended up serving just 13 months in prison, with work-release privileges allowing him to leave jail for up to 12 hours a day, six days a week.
Commenting on the light punishment, Lutnick alleged that Epstein handed over compromising videos of powerful figures in exchange for a slap on the wrist.
"I mean, he's a serial sex offender. How could he get 18 months and be able to go to his office during the day and have visitors and stuff? There must have been a trade," Lutnick said.
