1. United States
2. Ga.
3. Letter

I am writing to urge you to call for Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick's immediate resignation following revelations about his continued contact with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. To protect the trust of the American people and to uphold the honor of his office, Lutnick must step down. During a Senate hearing on Tuesday, Lutnick claimed he "barely had anything to do" with Epstein, yet he acknowledged visiting Epstein's private island in 2012. This visit occurred four years after Epstein's 2008 conviction for soliciting a minor. This admission directly contradicts Lutnick's statement in a podcast interview last year where he claimed he cut ties with Epstein in 2005. The discrepancy between his public statements and his actual conduct raises serious questions about his credibility and judgment. Sen. Jacky Rosen of Nevada, a key moderate and the first member of the Senate Commerce Committee to call for his resignation, stated that Lutnick "continued to have contact with Epstein well after he was convicted in 2008." She has been joined by Sen. Adam Schiff of California and a bipartisan group of House members including Rep. Thomas Massie of Kentucky and Rep. Ro Khanna of California. This bipartisan concern reflects the gravity of the situation. The Commerce Department oversees critical functions affecting American businesses and consumers. Leadership of this department requires unquestionable integrity and judgment. Lutnick's relationship with a convicted sex offender, his contradictory statements about that relationship, and his decision to visit Epstein's island after the conviction demonstrate a fundamental failure of both. I ask that you join your colleagues in calling for Secretary Lutnick's resignation. The American people deserve Cabinet officials who demonstrate sound judgment and maintain the highest ethical standards. Lutnick has failed to meet this basic requirement.