Trump’s commerce chief Lutnick to face Epstein grilling in closed-door interview - US politics live

Key Points:

• Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick is set for a closed-door transcribed interview with the Oversight Committee regarding his ties to Jeffrey Epstein, after previously acknowledging a 2012 visit to Epstein’s private island that contradicted earlier statements.
• Lutnick agreed to testify only after Democrats threatened to subpoena him, with bipartisan support from committee Republicans such as Nancy Mace and chair James Comer, who praised Lutnick’s commitment to transparency.
• The interview will likely focus on the timeline of Lutnick’s relationship with Epstein, amid concerns from committee members like Mace about the scheduling of witness conversations during congressional recesses.
• In other political news, Indiana Republicans endorsed by Donald Trump had mixed primary results, Ohio’s Sherrod Brown and Jon Husted secured their party nominations for the Senate race, and Senate Republicans proposed a $1 billion immigration enforcement funding package including security for Trump’s East Wing project.
• Fuel prices in the US are nearing $4.50 per gallon amidst Middle East tensions, with Senator Marco Rubio noting the US is relatively fortunate compared to other countries, while California’s gubernatorial race saw seven leading candidates debate as ballots are mailed out.