U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick told a congressional committee in private testimony Wednesday that he could not recall why he and his family had lunch with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein on the financier's private island in 2012, lawmakers said. The testimony contradicts Lutnick's previous public statements that he had severed contact with Epstein after a disturbing encounter around 2005.

Lutnick, formerly CEO of Cantor Fitzgerald, said during the session that Epstein learned his family was vacationing near the U.S. Virgin Islands and extended a lunch invitation, according to House Oversight Committee Chair James Comer, a Kentucky Republican. Comer described the testimony as voluntary and largely transparent, noting Lutnick admitted he was not fully accurate in earlier accounts of the island visit.

Emails released by the Justice Department in January show Lutnick visited Epstein's island in 2012 and later invited him to a 2015 political fundraiser. At a February 10 hearing, Lutnick claimed he had minimal contact with Epstein, saying they exchanged only about 10 emails and met three times over 14 years.

Representative Suhas Subramanyam, a Virginia Democrat, said committee members repeatedly questioned Lutnick about the purpose of the island meeting, but received no clear explanation. 'He says he doesn't remember, that it's inexplicable,' Subramanyam said.

Comer said if evidence emerges that Lutnick made false statements under oath, it would constitute a felony, and Lutnick would be held accountable. The committee is reviewing the testimony and related records for potential inconsistencies.