WATCH: Lutnick downplays his relationship with Epstein during Senate testimony

WASHINGTON (AP) — Under questioning from Democrats Tuesday, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick admitted he met with Jeffrey Epstein twice after his 2008 conviction on charges of soliciting prostitution from a child, reversing Lutnick’s previous claim that he cut ties with the late financier after 2005.

Lutnick again downplayed his relationship with the disgraced financier who was his New York City neighbor when questioned by Democrats during a subcommittee hearing of the Senate Appropriations Committee. He described their communication as a combination of emails and two meetings years apart.

“I had nothing to do with him. I hardly had anything to do with him,” Lutnick told lawmakers.

But Lutnick faces increased scrutiny, including calls for his resignation, from lawmakers after the release of Epstein’s case files contradicted Lutnick’s claims in a podcast last year that he decided to “never be in the room” with Epstein again after a 2005 tour of Epstein’s home that upset Lutnick and his wife.

The commerce secretary told senators on Tuesday that he and his family had lunch with Epstein on his private island in 2012, and that he had another hour-long engagement at Epstein’s home in 2011. Lutnick, a member of President Donald Trump’s cabinet, is the highest-ranking US official to face bipartisan calls for his resignation amid revelations about his ties to Epstein. His confession comes as lawmakers digest what accountability looks like amid the revelations contained in the so-called Epstein files.

In countries like the United Kingdom, the Epstein files have led to resignations and stripping of royal privileges, but until now, American officials have not faced the same level of punishment.

Senators want to look into Lutnick’s ties to Epstein

Sen. Chris Van Hollen, the Democrat who questioned Lutnick, told him: “There is no suggestion that you were involved in any wrongdoing with Jeffrey Epstein. It is a fact that you believe you misled the country and Congress based on your past statements.”

Van Hollen, a Maryland Democrat, stopped short of calling for Lutnick’s resignation on Monday, but requested documents from Lutnick about any of his relationships with Epstein.

He watches: The fallout from the Epstein files mounts as Ghislaine Maxwell demands fifth place before Congress

“It is absolutely essential that Congress provides these documents, in light of the misrepresentations he made, and then we will go from there,” he said.

Lutnick said during the Senate hearing that he would give this request some thought, adding: “I have nothing to hide.”

However, many Senate Republicans were also questioning Lutnick’s relationship with Epstein. Senator Roger Wicker, Republican of Missouri, said the visit to Epstein’s private island would “raise questions.” “This is something that concerns me,” Republican Senator Thom Tillis told reporters.

Tillis shied away from asking Lutnick to leave his position, but added that he would “do himself a favor by clarifying exactly what did and did not happen over the course of what appears to be an interesting relationship that included business entanglements.”

A pair of members of the House of Representatives call for their resignation

Meanwhile, House members, who initiated legislative efforts to force the release of the files, are demanding Lutnick’s resignation. Republican Rep. Thomas Massie of Kentucky called for this over the weekend after the release of emails that referred to meetings between Lutnick and Epstein.

Rep. Ro Khanna, a Democrat from California, joined Massie in pressuring Lutnick to leave office on Monday.

“Based on the evidence, he should be out of the Cabinet,” Khanna said.

He added: “It’s not about a specific person. In this country, we have to make a decision. Are we going to allow rich and powerful people who are friends and have no problem doing business and being seen with a pedophile who rapes underage girls, are we going to allow them to skateboard?”