Lutnick Epstein Mask: Commerce Secretary “Visibly Upset” During Bombshell House Oversight Hearing

Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick found himself at the center of a stunning moment during his closed-door testimony before the House Oversight Committee this week, when he was directly asked whether one of the eerie masks discovered in Jeffrey Epstein’s private island home resembled his own face — a question that reportedly left him visibly shaken.

What Happened During the Closed-Door Interview?

During the closed-door session on May 6, congressional sources revealed that Lutnick was asked about the infamous creepy mask room found in Jeffrey Epstein’s house on his private island in the U.S. Virgin Islands. The moment quickly became one of the most talked-about details to emerge from what was already a high-stakes hearing.

One of the masks in Epstein’s collection bears a striking resemblance to Lutnick — featuring a small beard, a bald head, and similar facial features. When asked specifically whether the bearded mask was modeled after his face, Lutnick was reportedly visibly upset by the question. His response: he did not grow a beard until after Epstein had already died.

The Epstein Mask Room: What We Know

The mask room was first revealed in a photo included in the large trove of documents released by a congressional committee. Located inside Epstein’s house on Little Saint James — his private Caribbean island — the room contains roughly a dozen masks hanging on a wall surrounding a dentist’s chair, creating an atmosphere that many have described as deeply unsettling.

The discovery has fueled widespread public curiosity and social media speculation, with many observers drawing comparisons between the facial features of the masks and various well-known public figures.

Lutnick’s Ties to Epstein: A Changing Story

Lutnick, a billionaire businessman and former CEO of Wall Street firm Cantor Fitzgerald, initially claimed he had cut off all ties with Epstein back in 2005. The two men were formerly next-door neighbors on Manhattan’s Upper East Side, their townhomes sharing a wall.

However, that account quickly unraveled after documents released by the Department of Justice showed that Lutnick’s wife emailed Epstein’s assistant in 2012, writing: “We are looking forward to visiting you. We would love to join you for lunch.” This placed Lutnick on Epstein’s island years after he claimed the relationship had ended — and years after Epstein’s 2008 guilty plea to state-level prostitution charges involving a minor.

Lutnick eventually conceded during Senate testimony in February that he and his family did have lunch with Epstein on the island in 2012. He described it as a brief, family vacation stop, insisting his wife, four children, and nannies were all present. DOJ documents also revealed that both men signed business documents in 2012 related to an advertising company called Adfin, and that Epstein agreed to donate $50,000 in 2017 tied to a dinner held in Lutnick’s honor.

The May 6 Testimony: Four Hours Behind Closed Doors

Lutnick’s appearance before the House Oversight Committee marked an extremely rare occasion — a sitting Cabinet official testifying in a congressional probe. He is considered the highest-ranking Trump administration official prominently named in the Epstein files, outside of the president himself.

The session lasted over four hours. Lutnick testified about three interactions he said he had with Epstein: a short meeting at Epstein’s New York home in 2005 with his wife, a brief lunch on Epstein’s island with his family in 2012, and a separate meeting in 2011 to discuss scaffolding in Epstein’s foyer. Notably, the interview was not recorded on video and was not conducted under oath — though lying to Congress remains a federal crime regardless.

Democrats Call It Evasive. Republicans Defend Him.

Democrats on the committee wasted no time going on offense. Several members accused Lutnick of being evasive, nervous, and dishonest, with Rep. Ro Khanna of California saying Lutnick had “changed his story” as new evidence emerged. Rep. Suhas Subramanyam called for Lutnick’s resignation, and Democrats noted that Lutnick admitted to consulting with Trump administration officials before his testimony — but could not or would not say who.

When asked directly whether he had spoken with President Trump ahead of the appearance, Lutnick refused to answer the question.

House Oversight Chair James Comer, a Republican from Kentucky, defended Lutnick, saying he had been “very transparent,” had appeared voluntarily, and had corrected prior statements about the island visit in his opening remarks. “If we find that there were any misstatements by Mr. Lutnick, it’s a felony to lie to Congress, and he’ll be held accountable,” Comer said.

Calls for Resignation Are Growing

Bipartisan calls for Lutnick’s resignation have been mounting ever since DOJ documents released under the Epstein Files Transparency Act directly contradicted his earlier public statements. Democrats argue that his evolving story represents a pattern of misleading the public, while Republicans maintain that no wrongdoing has been established.

Lutnick denied wrongdoing and declined to answer reporters’ questions as he left the building Wednesday afternoon. His mere appearance in the Epstein files, as with other prominent individuals, does not constitute evidence of guilt.

What’s Next in the Epstein Investigation?

The House Oversight Committee’s Epstein probe is far from over. Former Attorney General Pam Bondi is scheduled to testify before the panel on May 29. Billionaire Bill Gates is set to appear before the committee on June 10. President Trump, when asked about Lutnick’s Epstein ties, has called him “a very innocent guy.”

The investigation continues to cast a long and uncomfortable shadow over some of the most powerful figures in Washington and beyond.