Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick planned a visit to the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein’s private island in 2012, according to documents released by the Department of Justice on Friday. The planned visit would have come years after Epstein plead guilty to two prostitution-related charges in 2008, including with a minor.
In December 2012, Lutnick emailed a redacted email address saying he would be in the Caribbean with a large group, including family and friends, according to the documents reviewed by ABC News. Lutnick asked, “Does Sunday evening for dinner sound good?”
Epstein’s assistant, Lesley Groff, responded one day later saying, “below from Jeffrey: come sat or sunday lunch? little st James on the map, behind Christmas cove.”
Lutnick soon responded, “Ok, lunch on Sunday. See you then.”
More email communications released in Friday’s files show Lutnick’s wife, Allison, coordinating further with Epstein’s assistant for the visit.
On Dec. 21. 2012, Allison emailed Groff saying, “We are looking forward to visiting you” and describing the large group they were traveling with, saying “We would love to join you for lunch.”
Trade Minister Howard Lutnick walks down the stairs after a meeting during the Annual Meeting of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, Jan. 21, 2026.
Markus Schreiber/AP
“Would 1 or 1:30pm for lunch work?,” the note added.
Epstein’s assistant responded, “Jeffrey says 1:30 arrival will be great!”
Two days later, on Dec. 23, Allison wrote again, saying, “We are heading towards you from St. Thomas. Where should we anchor exactly?”
One day later, on Dec. 24, Lutnick received an email from Epstein’s assistant that said, “Jeffrey wished me to pass along the below to you: Nice seeing you.”
Lutnick spoke publicly about Epstein in October 2025, calling him “the greatest blackmailer ever.” In that interview, Lutnick further described Epstein as “gross.”
“I say to him, ‘Massage table in the middle of your house? How often do you have a massage?'” Lutnick said. “And he says, ‘Every day.'”
Lutnick, Epstein’s former neighbor, said he believes Epstein may have traded alleged blackmail videos for a lesser prison sentence in the so-called “sweetheart deal” he received during his first criminal case on state charges in 2008.
A spokesperson for the Department of Commerce responded to ABC News Friday, saying the now-secretary had “limited interactions with Mr. Epstein in the presence of his wife and has never been accused of wrongdoing.”
Dining with the Duke
Shortly after finishing his brief stint in the Florida penal system in 2010, Epstein celebrated his freedom by playing matchmaker for a friend — one who appears to be the then-Duke of York, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, according to documents included in DOJ’s release Friday.
“I have a friend who i think you might enjoy having dinner with,” Epstein wrote in an email to a contact listed as the “The Duke” on the evening of Aug. 11, 2010. Epstein provided her name and added “she will be london [sic] 20-24.”
“Of course. I am in Geneva until the morning of 22nd but would be delighted to see her,” Andrew responded. “Will she be bringing a message from you? Please give her my contact details to get in touch.” The reply signs off as “A, HRH The Duke of York KG.”
Epstein provided her email, to which Andrew responded, “Great. Any other information you might know about her that might be useful to know? Like what have you told her about me and have you given her my email as well?”
“She’s 26, Russian, clevere [sic] beautiful, trustworthy and yes she has your email,” Epstein assured.
A few hours later, on Aug. 12, the Duke of York emailed: “That was quick! How are you? Good to be free?”
Prince Andrew, Duke of York attends the traditional Easter Sunday Mattins Service at St George’s Chapel, Windsor Castle, April 20, 2025, in Windsor, England.
Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty Images)
Epstein had just concluded a 13-month jail sentence and work release — the result of a 2008 plea bargain with federal prosecutors in Florida.
In a partially redacted reply, Epstein said, “.. great to be free of many things.”
The pair appeared to be in regular correspondence in the proceeding weeks, with both expressing a desire to see each other, whether in London or Paris or elsewhere, according to the documents.
In late September, Epstein wrote he was “already in london” and asked “what time woudl [sic] you like me and [redacted],” adding “we will also need/have private time.”
Andrew replied he was “just departing Scotland should be down by [6pm]” and then he’d call — offering one of his houses for their evening.
“Alternatively we could have dinner at Buckingham Palace and lots of privacy,” Andrew said.
“bp please,” Epstein answered.
“What time and how many?” Andrew asked. Epstein replied, “I want private time with you, however i am here with [redacted], should i bring them all. so as to add some life.”
One afternoon two days later, Andrew again invited Epstein to Buckingham Palace, after he had wrapped a “lunch with Saudi Prince and then out to secret intelligence firm.”
“Delighted for you to come here to BP,” Andrew said.
The now-ex prince has denied any wrongdoing with respect to Maxwell and Epstein. However, amid fallout from his long running relationship with the convicted sex offender, he was stripped of his titles in October and moved out of his royal residence.
ABC News has reached out to a representative for Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor for comment.