Trump Commerce Secretary Contradicts FBI on Epstein Trafficking Evidence

Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick publicly challenged FBI Director Kash Patel's claim that there is no credible evidence Jeffrey Epstein trafficked victims to others besides himself. Lutnick, who lived next to Epstein for a decade, described Epstein as a master blackmailer who likely used video recordings of massages involving influential clients to secure a lenient 2008 plea deal. He recounted seeing a massage table in Epstein's home and speculated that the footage was traded to prosecutors in exchange for Epstein's controversial sentence, which allowed him daytime jail visits. This contradicts the official narrative from Patel and recent FBI and Justice Department statements denying such trafficking or blackmail evidence. Lutnick suggested that powerful associates, including figures like Bill Gates, either overlooked or ignored Epstein's activities, possibly due to being implicated themselves. Epstein's victims have condemned Patel's remarks, emphasizing existing public reports and FBI documents supporting trafficking allegations to others beyond Epstein himself.