US EditionPhoto of Lutnick on Epstein's island removed from Justice Department files now restored
The Justice Department removed a photo of Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick with Jeffrey Epstein on Epstein’s island for redaction review, drawing criticism from lawmakers.
- The Justice Department admitted it yanked a photo showing Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick with Jeffrey Epstein and restored it on February 26, 2026.
- Last month, the DOJ released a photo labeled EFTA01230639 showing Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick with Jeffrey Epstein on Little St. James, archived by the Internet Archive's Wayback Machine and Jmail.
- CBS News authenticated the photo showing Epstein, Lutnick, and three other men on an oceanside cliff, and Lutnick told lawmakers 'We had lunch on the island, that is true, for an hour'.
- The Department of Justice said the image was flagged for nudity and was being reviewed, while Representatives Ted Lieu, Thomas Massie, and Jimmy Gomez demanded explanations.
- Although Lutnick said he severed ties in 2005, Epstein files show they communicated and did business as recently as 2014 over Adfin, a now-shuttered advertising company.
28 Articles
28 Articles
The Department of Justice republished a photograph allegedly featuring Trade Secretary Howard Lutnick visiting the private island of late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, after being removed from his website for “containing nudity,” CBS News reported yesterday.
Commerce secretary under pressure to testify in Epstein case as DOJ pic mysteriously deleted · American Wire News
Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick is under growing pressure from lawmakers to testify about his relationship with Jeffrey Epstein. Lutnick was already facing criticism that he misrepresented his relationship with the notorious sex trafficker and pedophile when a photo of him with Epstein in a tropical setting, which was allegedly from the Justice Department files, was posted to social media with claims that it had been mysteriously deleted from …
Fact-check: Did DOJ remove Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick's photo from Epstein files?
US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick's photograph with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein was reportedly removed from the Epstein files shared by the Department of Justice. Lutnick is facing renewed scrutiny over his ties with Epstein.
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