The commerce secretary had previously told Congress he cut ties with Epstein in 2005 after the late financier – a neighbour of Lutnick’s in New York – used sexual innuendo to explain why he owned a massage table in a room of his home.
In Tuesday’s testimony, he said: “Over the next 14 years, I met him two other times that I can recall.”
The justice department files show Lutnick visited Epstein’s Caribbean island on 23 December, 2012. That came four years after Epstein was convicted for soliciting prostitution from a child.
Lutnick’s testimony on Capitol Hill marked the first time he publicly confirmed the visit.
“I don’t recall why we did it, but we did it,” he said Tuesday, referring to the lunch.
Lutnick has not been accused of any wrongdoing in relation to Epstein.
The other time, outside of meeting Epstein on his island, was a year and a half after that when Lutnick said he had an hour-long meeting with Epstein.
Lutnick noted that within the millions of pages of Epstein documents released by the justice department, roughly 10 emails connect him with Epstein.
“Over a 14-year period, I did not have any relationship with him, I barely had anything to do with that person,” he said.
