Breaking: Bombshell Epstein News as Top Trump Official Caught in Major Lie

Summary

The Parnas Perspective

Episode: Breaking: Bombshell Epstein News as Top Trump Official Caught in Major Lie
Host: Aaron Parnas
Date: May 6, 2026

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Episode Overview

In this action-packed episode, Aaron Parnas dives into seismic new developments on several major political and legal fronts. The focus: stunning revelations from the closed-door questioning of Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick about his links to Jeffrey Epstein and allegations that he misled the public—a scandal some believe could cost him his job in the Trump administration. Alongside this, Parnas exposes eyebrow-raising instances of market manipulation tied to Iran and exclusive details on an FBI raid targeting the powerful Democratic state senator Luis Lucas in Virginia. This episode is a masterclass in sharp, insider-informed commentary on corruption, media influence, and the intersection of law and politics.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Howard Lutnick’s Questioning on Epstein Ties

[01:00–04:46]

• Backdrop: Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick was questioned on Capitol Hill regarding his connections to Jeffrey Epstein.
• Parnas’ Scoop: Parnas shares details straight from congressional insiders who were present.
  • Lutnick claimed he only met Epstein on three occasions:
    1. Coffee at Epstein’s home as new neighbors, where he saw a massage table and felt uneasy.
    2. A brief family lunch at Epstein’s US Virgin Islands home, which he found unsettling due to Epstein’s assistant seemingly tracking his presence.
    3. A meeting about a construction project impacting Lutnick’s property.
  • Lutnick insisted he “never saw Epstein with young women or children, and never witnessed inappropriate behavior.”
• Lying and Evasion Allegations: Sources told Parnas that Lutnick was “lying” and “very evasive,” not telling the full truth and trying to skirt questions. Importantly, the questioning was not under oath.
• Notable Congressional Quote:

  “[Lutnick] was asked very straightforward questions about whether he regretted misleading the American people. … He said that he would never see Epstein again in 2005, and everyone knows he took his wife and kids to see Epstein in 2012. ... He made a farce of the English language.”
  —Unnamed Congressman [02:58]

• Controversy over Blackmail Claims: Lutnick also contradicted earlier statements about Epstein’s alleged blackmail and videotape operations, now dismissing them as “just speculation.”
  • This led the congressman to question, “Did someone tell him to say that?” and noted Lutnick “has lost all credibility.”
• Takeaway: The episode frames the Lutnick exchange as a pivotal moment: a high-ranking Trump official caught in shifting stories, raising questions about cover-ups and truthfulness at the executive level.

2. Transparency Concerns: No Video Record

[04:46–05:54]

• Why Wasn’t the Interview Videotaped?:
  • James Comer (Committee Chair) explained:

    “We didn’t video people that come in voluntarily. … At the end of the day, the transcript’s the most important thing.”
    —James Comer [05:21]

  • Parnas and his sources suggest this is deliberate to shield the process from public scrutiny.

3. Media Manipulation & Oil Market Moves

[05:54–07:28]

• Axios and Market Moves:
  • Parnas alleges Axios reported fake progress on ending the Iran war, immediately after $920M of oil shorts were placed.
  • Minutes later, oil dipped 12%. After Iran launched the Persian Gulf Strait Authority, oil rebounded 8%.
  • Parnas claims, “Axios, Barack Ravid … have, on behalf of the Trump administration, reported that we were close to a ceasefire… at least on five separate occasions. Each time they were wrong, but each time they were successful in manipulating the market and a lot of people made a lot of money off it.”
• Broader Criticism of Media:
  • Argues that reporters like Ravid may be acting more as messengers than journalists:

    "The question is, is he reporting news or delivering a message? I think that's a serious question. It's why independent media has never been so important."
    —Aaron Parnas [07:19]

4. FBI Raid on Virginia State Senator Luis Lucas

[07:28–08:23]

• Breaking News: FBI raids the office of State Senator Luis Lucas, a Democrat and close ally of Governor Abigail Spanberger, linked to a major corruption probe.
• Interesting Timing:
  • Lucas was instrumental in the passage of a redistricting amendment favoring Democrats.
  • Parnas notes the striking coincidence: “Just two weeks after it passed, Luis Lucas’s office [was] raided ... and Fox News was notified ... for that to occur, Justice Department manual requires high-level approval.”
• Media Tip-Offs: Raises the suspicion that the FBI or Attorney General tipped Fox News, pointing to orchestrated public messaging.

5. Other Breaking Stories

• [08:23–08:55]
  • Brief rundown of other news, including new hantavirus cases tied to a cruise ship in Switzerland.

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Lutnick’s Duplicity:

  “He made a farce of the English language … trying to define ‘I’ as if saying that what he really meant is that he would not see Epstein alone, but be totally fine with having his wife and kids see Epstein. It made no sense.”
  —Unnamed Congressman [03:28]

• On Investigative Credibility:

  “Why is Howard Lutnick changing his testimony, changing his story? He's lost all credibility. And really, it's a shame that the American people don't get to see what he did there.”
  —Unnamed Congressman [04:30]

• On Market Manipulation:

  “Axios … reported that we were close to a ceasefire… at least on five separate occasions. Each time they were wrong, but each time they were successful in manipulating the market and a lot of people made a lot of money off it.”
  —Aaron Parnas [06:34]

• On Transparency:

  “If you want to know why no one will ever see the videotape, it’s because there isn’t one.”
  —Aaron Parnas [05:16]

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Timestamps for Important Segments

• [01:00]: Lutnick’s questioning and claimed interactions with Epstein
• [02:58]: Congressman’s scathing remarks about Lutnick’s performance
• [04:46]: Why the inquiry was not videotaped; discussion with James Comer
• [05:54]: Allegations of market manipulation and media complicity
• [07:28]: FBI raid details and Lucas redistricting context
• [08:23]: Brief updates on the hantavirus and other breaking news

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Final Thoughts

This episode spotlights the fog of doublespeak in Washington and the blurred line between media, messaging, and market forces. Parnas’s real-time updates, direct congressional sources, and sharp legal analysis offer listeners a fast-paced, transparent look at stories other outlets might soft-pedal—or miss altogether.

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[For the complete breakdown and ongoing updates, follow Aaron Parnas on Substack and social media.]

Transcript

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[C]

We had major developments at this hour concerning the Epstein deposition, or rather questioning of Howard Lutnick, the Commerce Secretary. I've spoken to members inside the room. I have an update about what was said. And, well, one congressman says if Donald Trump saw this deposition or this questioning, then he would fire Lutnick on the spot. At the same time, more market manipulation fears about Iran. The FBI is currently raiding the offices of a Democratic state senator, Luis Lucas, who pushed for the redistricting we saw in Virginia, and, well, a whole lot more. I have the latest right now. Like Comment, Share subscribe get the word out. If you can subscribe to my substack, click the link below. I told you it's going to be a busy day and we're going to have more throughout the day. So please subscribe to my substack and support independent media below right now. The deposition or the questioning? I say deposition, but it's really just the questioning and interview of Howard Lutnick. He's I don't believe he's actually under oath. It's been taking place over the past couple hours on Capitol Hill. And Lutnick, according to members of Congress inside the room, has been lying. Has been lying. Here's what I've learned. According to details from the deposition, from the interview, Lutnick said he only met Jeffrey Epstein on three separate occasions. He said the first time he met Epstein was for coffee at Epstein's home after they became neighbors. That's When Epstein gave him a tour and Lutnick noticed a massage table leading to Lutnick deciding he didn't want a personal or business relationship with Epstein. Remember that moment? Yeah. Well, then, despite not wanting to have a personal relationship, Lutnick also described a brief family lunch at Epstein's home from the US Virgin Islands, saying he found it unsettling that Epstein's assistant somehow knew he was there. And a separate meeting about scaffolding for a construction project that could have impacted Lutnick's neighboring property. Lutnick reportedly told investigators he never saw Epstein with young women and never witnessed or children. And never witnessed inappropriate behavior involving young women or children. Here's what one congressman had to say. Leaving the deposition or the interview today,

[D]

why that interview was not videotaped. If Donald Trump had seen the video transcript, he would have fired Howard Lutnick. It was really embarrassing. He was asked very straightforward questions about whether he regretted misleading the American people. I mean, he said that he would never see Epstein again in 2005. And everyone knows that he took his wife and kids to see Epstein in 2012. And yet it was just contortions and lies and no acknowledgement that he misled the American public. And if you saw the exchanges that my colleagues had with him, you would see he made a farce of the English language. I mean, he was trying to define eye as if saying that what he really meant is that he would not see Epstein alone, but be totally fine with having his wife and kids. Kids see Epstein. It made no sense. And then he's raised even more serious concerns about the investigation. He originally had said that Epstein engaged in blackmail and recorded videotapes. Now he's saying, well, he was wrong. He was just speculating. And Epstein actually didn't engage in blackmailing. This raises the question of what the COVID up is. Did someone tell him to say that? I've not heard that he is that Epstein never engaged in blackmail. Why is Howard Lutnick changing his testimony, changing his story? He's lost all credibility. And really, it's a shame that the American people don't get to see what he did there.

[C]

Total. So they say it's total farce. He was lying. He was. And based on what I understand inside, he really wasn't. He was very evasive the entire time. Based on what I understand, he was not telling the full truth. Trying to get around the questions because this is an interview and wasn't. I don't believe it's under oath. It's just this, like, questioning of sorts. It's not like they can get much out of it. But if you want to know why no one will ever see the videotape, it's because there isn't one. Here's what Comer had to say regarding that based on, you know, his description of events. Do you have any concerns about the secretary's conflicting statements? And why not do this as a videotaped?

[E]

Well, this is, you know, with this transcribe, he's coming in voluntarily, first of all. So we didn't video, we don't video people that come in volunteer. We didn't video Ted Waite last week and. But at the end of the day, the transcripts, the most important thing, I assume there'll be Democrat members here today. If not, there'll be staffers. I know there was criticism. I read somewhere that a member too was complaining that this was on a day when Congress wasn't in session, when this was scheduled. We were supposed to be in session this day.

[C]

So you didn't give a clear answer, but essentially it's the ostrich with its head in the sand defense of no one saw anything. No one knows anything. And it comes as more market manipulation concerns over Iran grows and it's important that we call it out for what it is. I mean, Axios has been used to manipulate the market on behalf of the President. This morning, Axios said that they were close to an end to the war. $920 million worth of crude oil shorts were taken just 70 minutes before that Axios report. Then at 3:40am nearly 10,000 contracts worth of crude oil shorts were taken without any major news. This is equivalent to $920 million in value. Seventy minutes later, Axios reported that there was a memorandum of understanding close to ending the war. And then oil prices fell 12% afterwards. Minutes later, Iran launched the Persian Gulf strait authority and oil prices surged 8% literally. Market manipulation in real time. Axios, Barack Ravid, they have, on behalf of the Trump administration, reported that we were close to a ceasefire, we were close to an end of the war, at least on five separate occasions. And each time they were wrong. But each time they were successful in manipulating the market and a lot of people made a lot of money off of it. And I think it's important that we recognize that some in the media aren't actually doing a good enough job here and need to be can't just report things just because the White House tells them or because Israeli intelligence tells them. And this is, I mean, here's the thing. Barack Ravid he has deep sources inside the White House and Israeli intelligence. Every time the administration needs to pressure Iran or move oil, he gets the call. The question is, is he reporting news or delivering a message? I think that's a serious question. It's why independent media has never been so important. And at the same time this afternoon we're learning that. Well, we're learning Fox News was first on the scene somehow conveniently in Portsmouth, Virginia where the FBI raided the office of Virginia Senate President Pro Temp Luis Lucas, a Democrat and close ally of Virginia Governor Abigail Spamberger. Law enforcement tells Fox News that it's in connection to a major corruption probe and the FBI is serving multiple search warrants approved by a federal judge at her office and the next door cannabis dispensary. It's a corruption probe and somehow Fox was on the scene first. Now timing wise here is very interesting, right, because Luis Lucas was the reason why primarily Democrats were successful in passing the recent redistricting referendum constitutional amendment in Virginia. And well, just two weeks after it passed, Luis Lucas's office are now raided by the FBI as part of a so called corruption investigation without any details. And Fox News was notified by the FBI or by the attorney General ahead of this raid, mind you, for that to occur, Justice Department manual requires high level approval to get media on the scene. So we have big news regarding Epstein, big news regarding the FBI investigation. Market manipulation, the hantavirus continues to spread. Up to five confirmed cases now on that cruise ship, including one off the cruise ship in Switzerland. As always, I'll have more updates for you soon like comment, share, subscribe, get the word out. And if you can subscribe to my substack to support my work, click the link below and I'll have another update for you I'm sure in a few hours once we get more news. So stay tuned for more. Hey folks, thanks so much for watching. Feel free to add this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or anywhere you watch for the latest breaking news and daily hits throughout the day. Make sure to follow subscribe. See you soon for more Premier hosts on VRBO deliver quality vacation rental stays with fast responses and clear instructions so you don't have to worry about surprises. I asked our host a question about

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