Senator John Kennedy (R-LA) grilled Attorney General Pam Bondi on Tuesday about comments Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick made about Jeffrey Epstein during a recent interview with The New York Post — even going so far as to threaten to haul Lutnick before the Senate Judiciary Committee.
By Mediaite
During the interview in question, Lutnick said that “This guy [Epstein] was the greatest blackmailer ever.”
“Blackmail people. That’s how he had money,” added the Trump Cabinet member.
Kennedy had some pointed questions for Bondi about Lutnick’s assertion, given the fact that Bondi’s Justice Department has maintained that there’s no evidence Epstein was running a sexual blackmail ring:
KENNEDY: I’ve got to ask you about this, general. Secretary Howard Lutnick on October 1 gave an interview to The New York Post about Mr. Epstein. And he described Mr. Eppstein as, quote, “the greatest blackmailer ever,” close quote. Have you reviewed that transcript of that interview?
BONDI: I have not reviewed the transcript, but I saw the clip of it.
KENNEDY: Okay. It appears that Secretary Lutnick was Mr. Epstein’s next door neighbor. In fact, their townhomes shared a wall. And the reporter that was talking to Mr. Lutnick, she asked how other prominent men could have been associated with Epstein when Mr. Lutnick could immediately sense that he was a quote “pervert.” And then Secretary Lutnick said, or rather the reporter said, “Did they see it and ignore it?” Do you remember that from the interview?
BONDI: I do.
KENNEDY: And Commerce Secretary Lutnick said, “No, they participated.” And then Commerce Secretary Lutnick goes on to say, quote, “That’s what his MO was. You know, get a massage, get amassage. And what happened in that massage room, I assume was a video. This guy was the greatest blackmailer ever, blackmail people, that’s how he had money,” end quote. Is that true?
BONDI: Senator, as our July memo said, we did not uncover evidence. This case has gone through three administrations, as well as former U.S. Attorney Alex Acosta-
KENNEDY: I know, I know, I know that, Pam! But have you interview Secretary Lutnick?
BONDI: No, Senator.
KENNEDY: Do you plan to?
BONDI: If he wants to talk to the FBI or the FBI wants to talk to him, that is more than on-
KENNEDY: Don’t you think you ought to talk to him after this interview?
BONDI: Senator, if Howard Lutnick wants to speak to the FBI, and if Director Patel wants to speak to Howard Lutnick, absolutely.
KENNEDY: Okay. Maybe we ought to get Mr. Lutnick in here too, Mr. Chairman.