Howard Lutnick, the US Secretary of Commerce, is set to appear before the House Oversight and Reform Committee to address his past ties to Jeffrey Epstein. This follows the release of documents by the Justice Department indicating that Lutnick continued to communicate with Epstein after the financier's 2008 conviction for soliciting prostitution from a minor. Lutnick had previously stated that he and his wife cut ties with Epstein in 2005, but the newly released documents contradict this claim. During a Senate hearing, Lutnick acknowledged visiting Epstein's private island in 2012 for a lunch with his family, which further complicates his narrative. The upcoming testimony, scheduled for Wednesday, will take place behind closed doors, and a transcript will be made available later. Some lawmakers, including Republican Thomas Massie, have called for Lutnick's resignation, stating he has much to explain regarding his connections to Epstein. A spokesperson for the Commerce Department emphasized Lutnick's commitment to his work and dismissed media claims as distractions from his achievements.