Howard Lutnick believes Epstein may have used blackmail to get a lighter sentence

U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, breaking with the FBI and the Department of Justice, says he believes high-profile associates of convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein participated in his behavior -- and that Epstein may have blackmailed them with incriminating videos. Asked by the New York Post's Miranda Divine on Wednesday's Pod Force One podcast whether high-profile associates of Epstein knew of his behavior and just ignored it, Lutnick said he believes, "No, they participated. They participated That's what his M.O. was -- 'Get a massage, get a massage.'" "And what happened in that massage room, I assume, was on video," Lutnick said. "This guy was the greatest blackmailer ever." Lutnick, Epstein's former neighbor, said he believes Epstein may have traded alleged blackmail videos