Once again, there has been a stir in American politics regarding the relationships related to Jeffrey Epstein. US Commerce Secretary Howard Latnick admitted in a Senate hearing that he had met with Epstein twice after his 2008 conviction. This statement is different from his earlier claim, in which he had said that he had distanced himself from Epstein after 2005. After the new revelations, many MPs have intensified the demand for his resignation.
This difference came to light during a subcommittee hearing of the Senate Appropriations Committee. In response to questions from Democratic lawmakers, Latnick acknowledged that he met Epstein in later years, who was convicted in 2008 of soliciting prostitution from a minor. He said that their relationship was very limited and contact lasted only a few emails and two meetings.
What did the US Commerce Minister say in the hearing?
- US Commerce Secretary Howard Latnick told the hearing that he had no close relationship with Jeffrey Epstein.
- He said their contact was very limited and there was hardly any conversation or interaction.
- According to Latnick, contact was limited to just a few emails and two meetings.
- He admitted that in 2011 they met for about an hour at Epstein’s house.
- She also admitted having lunch with the family on Epstein’s private island in 2012.
- This admission is different from his earlier public statement, which talked about maintaining distance.
New facts clash with old statements
Earlier in a podcast interview, Latnick had said that after visiting Epstein’s house in 2005, he was so upset that he had decided never to even sit in the same room with him again. Now after the case file and email have come to light, this claim seems to be proved wrong. Regarding this contradiction, opposition MPs have accused him of misleading the country and the Congress.
Why did the demand for resignation arise?
Many MPs have said that the matter is not just about the meeting but about giving wrong information. Senator Chris Van Hollen said at the hearing that there was no indication that Latnick himself did any wrongdoing, but that his past statements were misleading. He said that the real concern is whether the country and the Parliament were given wrong information. Accountability should be fixed on this basis.
Pressure from leaders of both parties
Republican lawmaker Thomas Massie also called for Latnick’s resignation after the emails surfaced. Democrat MP Ro Khanna also talked about his removal from the cabinet. He says that this is not an issue of any one person, but it is time to decide whether powerful people will continue to get leeway in such matters. Epstein was surrounded by serious allegations of sexual exploitation of minor girls.
Pressure increased due to Epstein files
After the files related to Epstein became public, political impact has been seen in many countries. In countries like the United Kingdom, steps like resignation and withdrawal of privileges have been taken in cases related to this. That level of action has not been seen yet in America, but the pressure is increasing. Latnick, who is a member of President Donald Trump’s cabinet, is considered to be the highest-ranking official in this case on whom demands for resignation have been raised directly.
Other videos-
