US commerce secretary acknowledges meeting Epstein after his conviction

Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick listens as President Donald Trump speaks to reporters on Air Force One (Mark Schiefelbein/AP)

Under questioning from Democrats on Tuesday, US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick acknowledged that he had met Jeffrey Epstein twice after his 2008 conviction for soliciting prostitution from a child, reversing Mr Lutnick’s previous claim that he had cut ties with the late financier after 2005.

Mr Lutnick once again downplayed his relationship with the disgraced financier who was once his neighbour in New York City as he was questioned by Democrats during a subcommittee hearing of the Senate Appropriations Committee.