The future US Commerce Secretary, Howard Lutnick, is under public scrutiny due to his past business relationships with the late multimillionaire Jeffrey Epstein. Reports suggest that Lutnick has agreed to provide detailed information about these contacts during his confirmation process by the US Senate. The financier, who was nominated for the post by Donald Trump, was reportedly connected to Epstein for many years, including in real estate transactions and financial services.
The hearing before the relevant committee is considered a crucial hurdle for Lutnick's confirmation. Critics are demanding full transparency regarding the extent of his involvement in Epstein's financial networks. Lutnick himself emphasizes that the relationships were purely professional and that he had no knowledge of Epstein's criminal activities. In parallel, the political climate between the US and Europe is shaped by diplomatic visits, such as that of German CDU leader Friedrich Merz to Donald Trump, as well as by polls on the US image in Austria, which show a growing distance.
