President Donald Trump's Commerce Secretary, Howard Lutnick, is set to appear before the House Oversight and Reform Committee on Wednesday, where he will talk about his relationship with trafficker Jeffrey Epstein. Ex-Trump lawyer Michael Cohen wrote on his Substack that Lutnick's appearance before the committee is an effort for "survival."
Questions have surfaced about Lutnick's relationship with Epstein after he said that he had no associations with Epstein.
Then it was discovered he lived next door to the infamous Manhattan mansion. He'd claimed in an interview that there was only one encounter he had with the infamous Wall Street influencer. However, he was later found to have met Epstein on the private island with his family while sailing in the Caribbean. Questions about other encounters have prompted other conversations on Capitol Hill, leading to a call to testify.
"Howard Lutnick is walking into the most dangerous room of his professional life," said Cohen.
"This is not some earnings call where you filibuster your way through uncomfortable questions and move on to the next slide," wrote Cohen. Not being in control makes things dangerous for Lutnick, said Cohen.
"Not because anyone is alleging he participated in Epstein’s crimes. They aren’t. But because credibility, once cracked, has a funny way of collapsing all at once," continued Cohen. "And Howard has a credibility problem the size of Central Park. His public story has shifted so many times it now resembles a choose your own adventure novel written by a crisis PR intern on three cans of Red Bull."
More investigation about Lutnick uncovered that even after Epstein went to prison in Florida for trafficking and other charges, Lutnick remained in contact with him for an event in 2017, documents show.
Cohen went on to say that he expects Democrats to "come loaded for bear."
Democrats will likely ask Lutnick about his statement that Epstein is the “greatest blackmailer ever," Cohen said. It will be a problem for Lutnick because the Justice Department previously sent out a memo saying that there was “no credible evidence” that Epstein blackmailed any prominent individuals.
"So naturally, Congress will ask the obvious question: if you believed Epstein was a master blackmailer, based on what? Was it hyperbole? Performance? Knowledge? Instinct? Loose lips on a podcast?" asked Cohen.
The "real story," he said, that folks shouldn't miss is that a hearing like this is an audition for Donald Trump.
"In Trumpworld, facts are secondary. Performance is everything," said Cohen. "Trump does not care whether Howard Lutnick is technically right, legally insulated, or morally defensible. Trump cares about one thing: weakness."
So, if Lutnick comes off poorly, it could become problematic for his future in Trumpworld.
"Right now, with the economy faltering, inflation still haunting consumers, and markets sending mixed signals, Trump may be looking for a sacrificial offering," said Cohen. Lutnick could become that guy and the ex-Trump lawyer thinks he knows it.