Massie doesn’t always support the president. But this takes it to a whole new level.
And now Thomas Massie betrayed the Trump administration in a move that if ruffling feathers.
Rep. Thomas Massie, the Kentucky Republican who co-authored the Epstein Files Transparency Act, has called for Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick to resign following the release of additional Jeffrey Epstein documents that appear to show more extensive past interactions between Lutnick and Epstein than previously disclosed.
Push for Transparency Yields New Revelations
The latest tranche of Epstein files, made public through the bipartisan Epstein Files Transparency Act championed by Massie and Rep. Ro Khanna, details planned trips to Epstein’s private island in 2012, shared investments in a private company, collaborative philanthropic efforts, and social engagements in New York and the Caribbean.
These contacts reportedly continued years after Epstein’s 2008 conviction for s-xual crimes. Lutnick had previously stated in a podcast that he and his wife cut ties with Epstein around 2005.
Massie’s Call for Resignation
Appearing on CNN’s “Inside Politics Sunday,” Massie directly addressed the findings and urged Lutnick to step down. He stated: “He should just resign.”
Massie added: “Howard Lutnick clearly went to the Island if we believe what’s in these files,” and noted: “He was in business with Jeffrey Epstein, and this was many years after Jeffrey Epstein was convicted for s-xual crimes.”
Emphasizing accountability, Massie said: “So he has a lot to answer for, but really, he should make life easier on the president, frankly, and just resign.”
He compared the situation to fallout in the UK, observing: “If this was Great Britain, he’d be gone.”
Administration Response and Broader Context
A Commerce Department spokesman defended Lutnick, stating: “Secretary Lutnick had limited interactions with Mr. Epstein in the presence of his wife and has never been accused of wrongdoing.”
The spokesman described the revelations as part of efforts to smear the secretary. The Epstein files release has triggered significant consequences elsewhere, including resignations and title losses among British figures linked to Epstein.
Massie’s comments come amid ongoing scrutiny of past associations with the late convicted s-x offender, who died in prison in 2019 while awaiting trial on s-x-trafficking charges.
