Lawmakers emerged from a private House committee interview with Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick with sharply conflicting assessments of his testimony regarding ties to deceased financier Jeffrey Epstein, with Kentucky Rep. James Comer joining Republicans in defending the Cabinet official while Democrats expressed skepticism.

The closed-door House committee interview touched on Lutnick's professional and social connections to Epstein, whose 2019 arrest and death in federal custody sparked widespread scrutiny of his business relationships and associates.

Comer, who chairs the House Oversight Committee, joined other Republican lawmakers in praising Lutnick's responses during the session. GOP members characterized his testimony as transparent and satisfactory, suggesting the questioning had resolved their concerns about the Commerce Secretary's relationship to the disgraced financier.

Democrats on the committee took a contrary view, with several lawmakers indicating they found Lutnick's explanations insufficient or unconvincing. Their skepticism reflected broader partisan divisions over the Cabinet official's vetting and fitness for his position.

Lutnick, a prominent financier and former CEO of investment firm Cantor Fitzgerald, underwent Senate confirmation hearings for the Commerce Secretary role. The Epstein connection has become a point of contention for some lawmakers as they assess his background and judgment.

The private hearing underscored the ongoing political debate over how thoroughly Cabinet nominees should be questioned about their past associations, particularly with figures involved in criminal conduct. Comer's defense of Lutnick signaled Republican satisfaction with the Commerce Secretary's explanations, while Democratic criticism suggested the issue could linger as a point of dispute.