WASHINGTON (Diya TV) — A photo released by the Justice Department as part of the Jeffrey Epstein files briefly disappeared from the agency’s website before reappearing Thursday night. The image shows Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick standing with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein on Epstein’s private Caribbean island. The removal and restoration of the photo have drawn fresh attention to Lutnick’s past ties to Epstein. Lutnick has denied any wrongdoing and says he has “nothing to hide.”
The Justice Department released the photo last month under file number EFTA01230639. It shows Epstein, Lutnick, and three other men standing near an oceanside cliff on Little St. James, Epstein’s private island in the U.S. Virgin Islands. At some point, the link to the image led to a “Page not found” message. The photo later reappeared on the department’s website Thursday night, just hours after media reports noted its removal.
The Internet Archive’s Wayback Machine, a nonprofit that preserves online content, downloaded the photo from the Justice Department’s website on Jan. 31. Another web archive known as Jmail also preserved the image.
Newly released Epstein files include millions of emails and documents. Some of those records show that Lutnick, his wife, and their four children planned a visit to Little St. James in 2012.
Epstein invited Lutnick for lunch on Dec. 24, 2012. After the visit, Epstein’s assistant wrote on his behalf, saying, “It was nice seeing you.” Earlier this month, Lutnick testified before a congressional committee. He acknowledged visiting Epstein’s island with his family.
“We had lunch on the island, that is true, for an hour,” Lutnick told lawmakers. “Then we left with all of my children, with my nannies and my wife all together. We were on a family vacation.”
He rejected any suggestion of misconduct.
“To suggest there was anything untoward about that in 2012, I don’t recall why we did it. But we did,” he said.
Lutnick has not faced any criminal charges in connection with Epstein.
In recent weeks, critics have questioned Lutnick’s relationship with Epstein. The two were neighbors in New York City. Lutnick previously said he cut off contact with Epstein in 2005. However, documents in the Epstein files show that they continued business dealings years later.
The records show that Lutnick and Epstein shared interests in an advertising company called Adfin. The company has since shut down. Emails indicate that the two discussed Adfin as recently as 2018. In one message, Epstein asked Lutnick, “On another note, what do you think the prospects for adfin are??”
Other emails show that Lutnick contacted Epstein in 2018 about a proposed expansion of the Frick Collection art museum near their homes in New York. Lutnick warned Epstein that the renovation could “block your sunlight and views.” He urged Epstein to send a letter opposing the project.
“You should put in a letter. I’m sending a lawyer. Don’t ignore this,” Lutnick wrote.
Epstein died in a New York jail in 2019 after authorities arrested him on federal sex trafficking charges. Officials ruled his death a suicide. The release of the Epstein files has renewed public interest in people who had personal or business ties to him. The documents include emails, flight logs,s and other records.
Lutnick has said he has “nothing to hide — absolutely nothing.” He has denied any involvement in Epstein’s criminal conduct. The temporary removal of the photo from the Justice Department’s website has added to questions surrounding transparency in the Epstein files. Lawmakers and members of the public continue to review the records for new details.
