The Epstein scandal continues to deepen with new documents revealing the names of new public figures associated with the disgraced financier. Amid allegations of redacting certain names from the released documents, the Department of Justice recently admitted to pull Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick’s name from the files.
According to The Independent DOJ admitted that authorities had pulled a file from the pool of Epstein emails that contained a picture of Lutnick with Epstein on his infamous island.
While the picture cannot be found on the DOJ’s website now, it was previously downloaded on January 31, by Internet Archive’s Wayback Machine, a non-profit organization that preserves online digital content.
Moreover, it was also archived by Jmail, a web interface created to keep a documentation of the Epstein files. The photo was initially released under file no. EFTA01230639, which now redirects to a page that shows ‘page not found.’
The DOJ removed this photo of what appears to be Howard Lutnick. You can still access it on Jmailhttps://t.co/4kMl1kOTpT pic.twitter.com/ETx5oUWz27
— Jmail (@jmailarchive) February 26, 2026
After reports of the removal came to light, one DOJ official admitted to the redaction, saying, “This image was part of a batch of files that were flagged for n—–. The batch of thousands of images was pulled for review and is being uploaded with necessary redactions on a rolling basis.”
However, he emphasized on the fact that there were no files that were being deleted. Lutnick had previously claimed that he had met Epstein only once, when he became his neighbor back in 2005. According to Lutnick, they had severed ties after that.
The documents released by the DOJ, however, provide a different view. According to the documents, Lutnick had mentioned that he had visited Epstein’s island for a family picnic with “his children and his nannies.” Moreover, there is also evidence of the two being in contact long after Epstein’s conviction in 2008.
According to the newly released Epstein files, in 2012, Lutnick, along with his wife and their four children planned a visit to Little St. James, a private island where Epstein had an estate. He was also invited for lunch on December 24, 2012, following which, one of Epstein’s assistants wrote to him, saying, “it was nice seeing you.”
Howard Lutnick is the Erika Kirk of dudes.
No tears
Stole all the insurance money from his employees families.
Lied about it being his kids 1st day of kindergarten.
Lied about his relationship with Epstein.pic.twitter.com/PZFioENWEy
— Cuckturd (@CattardSlim) February 16, 2026
Lutnick testified before a Congressional committee earlier this month where he acknowledged his visit to the island. He said, “We had lunch on the island, that is true, for an hour. Then we left with all of my children, with my nannies and my wife all together. We were on family vacation. We were not apart. To suggest there was anything untoward about that in 2012, I don’t recall why we did it. But we did.”
The Commerce Secretary has not yet been charged in any case of wrongdoing in relation to Epstein. However, he did lie about cutting his contact with him back in 2005 as the evidence released by the DOJ clearly proves otherwise. During the Congressional hearing, Lutnick also emphasized that he had “nothing to hide — absolutely nothing.”
With the redaction of his image and the subsequent justification of the DOJ about the same, it now remains to be seen whether any new evidence involving Lutnick comes forward regarding his ties to Epstein, for which he is already being criticized.
