Howard Lutnick’s real estate connection to Jeffrey Epstein is under fresh scrutiny—especially after his recent appearance alongside Donald Trump, who dismissed renewed interest in the Epstein case as “boring.”
Lutnick, CEO of Cantor Fitzgerald and current Commerce Secretary, owns a Manhattan townhouse directly adjacent to Epstein’s infamous 9 East 71st Street residence.
While there’s no public evidence the two men had a personal relationship, real estate records and past investigations show their property histories overlapped significantly.
What We Know
In 1998, Lutnick purchased 11 East 71st Street—a 10,000-square-foot Upper East Side home—taking out a $4 million mortgage that was later paid off in 2018.
Before that, the building passed through a complex web of ownership tied to Epstein.
A now-defunct entity linked to Epstein, SAM Conversion Corp., bought the property in 1988.
It was then transferred through two specialized trusts—one of which, the Comet Trust, had ties to an individual named in Epstein’s notorious “black book” obtained by the FBI.
During the ownership shuffle, Epstein served as trustee and gave his lawyer, Jeffrey Schantz, power of attorney to sell the property.
In 1996, Schantz sold it to the Comet Trust.
Two years later, the trust sold it to Lutnick.
Why It Matters
Epstein’s alleged “client list” remains a political flashpoint, especially among Trump’s base.
Despite public demand for full disclosure, Trump continues to downplay the issue—sparking frustration among MAGA influencers like Tucker Carlson and Alex Jones.
At a press event on Tuesday, Trump brushed off Epstein-related questions, saying:
“I don’t understand why the Jeffrey Epstein case would be of interest to anybody. It’s pretty boring stuff.”
Standing beside him, Lutnick was caught laughing—fueling backlash online.
MeidasTouch, a progressive media outlet, posted:
“Howard Lutnick, who is laughing it up next to Trump, was Epstein’s neighbor in NYC and lived in one of his previous homes, btw…”
YouTuber Coffeezilla also commented, posting the clip with:
“Howard Lutnick was Epstein’s neighbor. The laughing at the end…”
Reactions & Fallout
Political analysts say this is not just noise—it could be damaging.
Mark Shanahan, professor of politics at the University of Surrey, told Newsweek:
“The Epstein backlash has the power to hurt Trump badly… Releasing the Epstein Files is the Holy Grail for the MAGA base.”
Meanwhile, the White House is trying to contain the fallout.
Spokesperson Harrison Fields said:
“Any attempt to sow division within this team is baseless and distracts from the real progress being made.”
What’s Next?
As GOP infighting over Epstein deepens, Trump is shifting the burden.
He told reporters that Attorney General Pam Bondi should decide what to release:
“Whatever she thinks is credible.”
The call for transparency remains loud—and as more names and connections surface, the pressure will only intensify.
