Karoline Leavitt cuts short White House briefing after reporter asks about Commerce chief Lutnick's Epstein island admis
Source: The Independent
Tuesday 10 February 2026 15:31 EST
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt on Tuesday abruptly cut short a briefing with reporters after a reporter asked about Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnicks relationship with Jeffrey Epstein.
The question came hours after Lutnick, responding to questions from congressional lawmakers over documents released by the Justice Department, revealed that he misled the public about the extent of his ties to the convicted pedophile sex trafficker, who killed himself in jail while awaiting trial.
Leavitt was roughly 20 minutes into one of her regular briefings with the White House press corps when a reporter asked whether President Donald Trump would stand behind Lutnick, who earlier in the day had admitted to members of the Senate Commerce Committee that hed visited Epsteins notorious private island, Little Saint James. She replied that Trump fully supports Lutnick and described him as a very important member of President Trump's team.
But instead of allowing reporters to probe further into Trumps views on Lutnick, or ask any other further questions, Leavitt launched into a monologue chastising reporters for not asking about various positive statistics touted by the administration on issues of importance to the president.
Read more: https://www.the-independent.com/news/world/americas/us-politics/karoline-leavitt-reporter-lutnick-epstein-island-b2917783.html
bucolic_frolic
(54,536 posts)Turbineguy
(39,920 posts)the situation is serious.
Traildogbob
(12,755 posts)AZJonnie
(3,270 posts)It's "funny" that in the very same gathering, she took the opportunity to chastise other people for not cutting ties with Epstein as early as Trump did, but she sure didn't want to talk about one of those very people (who ALSO lied about it), did she now?
erronis
(23,170 posts)I've been married to someone who was as cultist as the trumpers are - but I got out as the veneer started coming off. I don't know how he put up with KA for as long as he did - good sex?
berksdem
(909 posts)this needs to be asked at every chance. Lutnick is a criminal and need to face the music.
do not let up!
mahatmakanejeeves
(68,839 posts)She's not wearing a cross on a necklace.
The White House
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Grokenstein
(6,302 posts)Just like he does to everyone.
It will be the ONLY day I want to see her if-a-praying-mantis-disguised-herself-as-human face.
Cirsium
(3,687 posts)She isn't looking as chipper and perky nor sounding as glib as she did a short while back.
BurnDoubt
(1,589 posts)You should only ask questions when she knows the answers.
Moving On
is NOT an answer.
BidenRocks
(2,967 posts)I am insulted that they think we are believing ANY of their bullshit!
Lying to congressional hearings?
Lock him up!
Perv!
SergeStorms
(20,222 posts)Obviously the Epstein probe isn't important to him, or any other republican.
And MAGAts were positive tRump would finally get to the bottom of this Epstein thing because of all the Democrats it would name.
OK.
Whatever happened to "promises made, promises kept?"
progressoid
(52,830 posts)BumRushDaShow
(167,300 posts)after churning through a couple Press Secretaries.
progressoid
(52,830 posts)Once she starts to flail about on a regular basis, she's gone. Or when the they can no longer stop the onslaught of actual questions from what's left of the media.
Frankly, I'm kind of surprised she's still there. But she is very tenacious in her lying.
Jughead
(134 posts)Resign now Karoline or go down with the ship.
