House Oversight Dems Seek Trump Commerce Secretary Testimony Over Epstein Blackmail Claims

Rep. Robert Garcia, the top Democrat on the House Oversight Committee, is pushing to have Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick testify before Congress after Lutnick made explosive claims about Jeffrey Epstein. Lutnick, who was Epstein's neighbor, alleged that Epstein used a massage room in his New York townhouse to blackmail wealthy and powerful individuals with compromising videos, which he believes helped Epstein secure a lenient 2008 plea deal. Garcia emphasized the committee's strong interest in understanding the basis of Lutnick's theories and signaled support for a subpoena to compel his testimony. Additionally, Rep. Melanie Stansbury accused FBI Director Kash Patel of perjury regarding his testimony about the Epstein files, alleging an ongoing cover-up and a broader "crime wave" linked to the Trump administration. These developments highlight intensifying congressional scrutiny of Epstein-related matters within the current administration.