Aggregator
‘General Hospital’ star Steve Burton bitterly calls out ex-wife’s ‘manipulation’ in messy custody battle
‘General Hospital’ star Steve Burton bitterly calls out ex-wife’s ‘manipulation’ in messy custody battle
FBI raids office of powerful Virginia Democrat as part of major corruption, marijuana probe
Jaxson Dart’s girlfriend shares inside look at Kentucky Derby date
JR Smith explains ‘worst part’ about being knocked down by Knicks fans in raucous celebration
California governor candidate Chad Bianco caught in awkward word salad by CNN’s Kaitlan Collins
Ric Flair rips Luka Doncic, calls for Lakers to trade injured star
Lutnick Testifying Today On Epstein Ties After Dems Demand Subpoena
Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick - a former neighbor and pal of Jeffrey Epstein who emailed the sex offender about visiting his Caribbean island (and then said it was 'nice to see him' in a subsequent email) - will provide closed-door testimony today in front of the US House committee investigating the Epstein's crimes and possible lapses in the law enforcement response.
While Lutnick initially claimed he barely knew Epstein (like everybody else), emails and other documents released earlier this year by the DOJ reveals he's full of shit.
As we noted in February, the trip, planned in 2012, came years after Lutnick claimed he cut all ties with the pedophile. Yet in December of that year, Lutnick sent an email to Epstein saying that he had a group of people, including his wife and children and another family, who were visiting the Caribbean - and inquired as to where Epstein was located and whether they could visit for a meal.
Epstein, replying through an assistant, set up a lunch gathering.
When reached for comment, Lutnick told the NY Times "I spent zero time with him," before hanging up.
The documents suggest the visit did occur. The gathering was set for Dec. 23, 2012. A day later, an assistant to Mr. Epstein forwarded Mr. Lutnick a message from Mr. Epstein: “Nice seeing you,” it said.
In a podcast interview last year, Mr. Lutnick claimed that around 2005, he and his wife had been so revolted by Mr. Epstein that they decided not to associate with him again.
Mr. Lutnick said in the interview that Mr. Epstein invited them to tour his Upper East Side mansion, next door to Mr. Lutnick’s own home. When they noticed a massage table in the middle of a room, Mr. Lutnick recalled, Mr. Epstein explained that he received “the right kind of massage” every day. Mr. Lutnick said that he and his wife quickly left and decided to “never be in a room with that disgusting person ever again.”
Except, that was complete bullshit of course.
Lutnick's connection to Epstein isn't a huge surprise after a 2019 Crain's investigation found that sex offender had significant links to the property next to his infamous Manhattan townhouse at 9 East 71st Street.
Crain's investigation found that Epstein's history at the address is entangled with the adjacent property, 11 E. 71st St., now home to billionaire Howard Lutnick—as well as with 301 E. 66th St., a building belonging to Epstein's brother.
An entity called the SAM Conversion Corp. purchased 11 E. 71st St. in 1988, more than a year before the Nine East 71st Street Corp. bought the former school that would become Epstein's domicile. At the time, both companies used a Columbus, Ohio, address associated with Limited Brands founder Leslie Wexner, Epstein's mentor and client.
In 1992 SAM Conversion Corp. sold 11 E. 71st St. to the 11 East 71st Street Trust for "ten dollars and other valuable consideration paid by the party of the second part," records show. Martha Stark, former commissioner of the city Department of Finance, told Crain's that the $10 figure is a placeholder used in many real estate sales—a holdover from a period when the value of property transactions was not publicly disclosed.
...
In 1998 Comet Trust sold 11 E. 71st St. to Lutnick, again for "10 dollars and other valuable consideration." The real estate transfer tax payment came to $106,400, from which Stark estimated the actual price to have been $7.6 million.
Lutnick, now the CEO of financial services firm Cantor Fitzgerald, took out a $4 million mortgage on the property the same day as the sale. His spokesperson did not reply by press time to requests for comment on the property's history and his relationship with his next-door neighbor.
Related:
- Latest Epstein Release Catches Goldman's Top Lawyer In Massive Lie
- Latest Epstein Emails Reveal Bill Gates Slipped Wife Antibiotics For STD He Got From Russian Hookers
- Palmer Luckey One-Shots Jason Calacanis Over Epstein Ties
In February, Lutnick told the Senate Appropriations Committee that he "barely had anything to do" with Epstein.
SEN. VAN HOLLEN: Why do the Epstein files show you coordinating a meeting and planning a visit with Jeffrey Epstein on his private island in December 2012?
HOWARD LUTNICK: I barely had anything to do with that person, okay?
pic.twitter.com/6wFAyKYQYR
Right...
Tyler Durden Wed, 05/06/2026 - 11:55Pizza Hut resurrects beloved 90s pizza promo — and nostalgic millennials are psyched: ‘Can we do an adult version?’
Bombshell new theory in Chiara Poggi case revives Italy’s infamous Garlasco murder mystery
Real estate broker has novel approach to lure rich Californians to Florida: ‘Your wealth is wanted’
Kylie Jenner describes ‘crazy’ mushrooms trip that left her in tears
Kylie Jenner describes ‘crazy’ mushrooms trip that left her in tears
Vigilante predator catcher arrested for allegedly forcing creep to eat cigarette butts
Lena Dunham’s Met Gala 2026 dress was inspired by blood spatter
Lena Dunham’s Met Gala 2026 dress was inspired by blood spatter
China Wants Iran War End, Pushes 'Immediate' Hormuz Reopening During Araghchi Visit Ahead Of Trump-Xi Summit
Iranian foreign minister Abbas Araghchi is currently in Beijing meeting with his Chinese counterpart, FM Wang Yi, and the timing of the visit sends a resounding message to Washington and the West. The highly anticipated Trump-Xi meeting is still scheduled for next week, expected for May 14-15, though there has been ample speculation the ongoing events of the unpredictable Iran war and Hormuz Strait crisis could derail the trip at the last minute.
Of course, Iran and the question of peace will be high on the agenda as Trump visits - and currently it seems the White House is desperate to set in place some kind of final offramp, given the Tuesday night 'pause' in Project Freedom operations in the Gulf.
Upon the occasion of Araghchi's visit, Foreign Minister Wang has taken the opportunity to again call for the immediate opening of the strait. And the Iranian top diplomat seconded this at a moment the US Navy has imposed an effective blockade of Iranian ports, which of course severely impacts Iranian oil going to China. "Currently, it is possible to resolve the issue of reopening the Strait of Hormuz as soon as possible," Xinhua quoted Araghchi as saying.
Source: Iranian Foreign MinistryWang during the meeting also called for a "comprehensive ceasefire," saying his country is deeply distressed by the war. Xinhua further quoted him as saying:
"The international community shares a common concern for restoring normal and safe passage through the Strait, and China hopes the relevant parties will respond as quickly as possible to the strong calls from the international community."
The two sides are clearly coordinating their messaging to some degree, given Wang also expressed that China "appreciates Iran’s pledge to not develop nuclear weapons."
Tehran has for years insisted its program is only for peaceful nuclear energy development and for domestic needs, but has amid Trump's Operation Epic Fury made clear it will never given up its right to enriched uranium. It has said this is as "sacred as the soil" and sees it as a matter of national sovereignty. This in the face of US demands that it transfer all nuclear material out of the country.
More out of Beijing on Wednesday:
“We believe that a comprehensive ceasefire brooks no delay, a resumption of hostilities is inadvisable, and persisting with negotiations is particularly important,” Wang told Araghchi at the start of their meeting, according to footage released by Hong Kong-based Phoenix TV.
...Earlier, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio urged China to press Iran to ease its blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, through which roughly one-fifth of the world’s oil and gas passes.
As for what China gains in this high-level diplomacy and engagement with Tehran at a moment it could face more US and Israeli bombs, Associated Press presents the following:
Some noted that the Iranian foreign minister visited at Beijing’s initiative. "It’s China exercising their leverage... to summon the Iranian foreign minister," said Hoo Tiang Boon, a professor of Chinese foreign policy at Nanyang Technological University.
"By holding the talks with the Iranians, you can't fault for them not putting in any effort," Hoo said.
As for some further specifics to come out of the Araghchi-Wang meeting, Iran "expressed appreciation for China’s four-point proposal" - according to a readout in semi-official Iranian Students' News Agency (ISNA).
Hilarious that the message Rubio is asking China to give Iran during Araghchi's Beijing visit is that Iran is "globally isolated" when the very fact he's invited to China (and that China is now fighting US sanctions on Iran's oil) proves they aren't.pic.twitter.com/UUGmfrL2d1
— Arnaud Bertrand (@RnaudBertrand) May 6, 2026"Iran supports the formation of a new framework for the post-war period in the region" the readout adds. As for the 'four points' - these were issued by Beijing earlier in the conflict and are quite broad. These official points are featured below in their entirety, via Chinese state sources:
- Stay committed to the principle of peaceful coexistence. The Gulf states in the Middle East are close neighbours that cannot move away. It’s important to support the Gulf states in improving their ties, work to build a common, comprehensive, cooperative and sustainable security architecture of the Middle East and the Gulf region, and consolidate the foundation for peaceful coexistence.
- Stay committed to the principle of national sovereignty. Sovereignty serves as a foundation for all countries, especially developing countries, to survive and thrive, and it must not be violated.
- Stay committed to the principle of international rule of law. We should safeguard the authority of international rule of law, reject selective application, and prevent the world from returning to the law of the jungle. It is important to firmly uphold the international system with the United Nations at its core, the international order based on international law, and the basic norms governing international relations underpinned by the purposes and principles of the UN Charter.
- Stay committed to a balanced approach to development and security. Security is a prerequisite for development and development serves as a safeguard of security.
If negotiations between the US and Iran don't proceed, and if they stay at 'square one', this could weaken any big leverage President Trump hopes to have entering his meeting with Xi Jinping. This is perhaps why American officials are scrambling to cobble something together, to at least cite progress toward resolving the Hormuz situation. Still Trump has insisted he has "all the cards" when it comes to Iran.
Tyler Durden Wed, 05/06/2026 - 11:20