Howard Lutnick, President-elect Donald Trump's nominee for Commerce Secretary, is facing congressional scrutiny over newly revealed investigatory files that appear to contradict his previous statements about when he ended contact with Jeffrey Epstein.

Lutnick, who serves as CEO of financial services firm Cantor Fitzgerald, has previously stated that he stopped speaking with the disgraced financier in 2005. However, recently disclosed files from investigations into Epstein suggest otherwise, prompting a House committee to seek clarification.

The investigatory documents reportedly show evidence of Lutnick visiting Epstein's private island after the date he claimed to have severed ties. The specific nature and timing of these visits, as indicated in the files, have not been publicly detailed.

A House inquiry has now been launched to examine the apparent discrepancy between Lutnick's public statements and the investigatory records. The committee is seeking to understand why the files contradict Lutnick's timeline regarding his relationship with Epstein.

The development comes as Lutnick awaits Senate confirmation for his Cabinet position. Epstein died in federal custody in 2019 while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges, and his associations with prominent figures have continued to generate scrutiny through ongoing investigations and document releases.