India, Feb. 10 -- US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick on Tuesday denied having connections to the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein even as he came under fire from lawmakers calling for him to step down.

Talking of his relations with Epstein, the US Secretary of Commerce said he met the sex offender three times in over 14 years. He was speaking before a Senate committee hearing.

"I did not have a relationship with Epstein," he said, adding he met Epstein first when the latter moved next door. He said he also had a lunch with the convicted sex offender when he was on a "boat near his island on a family vacation."

"Over a 14 year period, I did not have any relationship with him. I barely had anything to do with that person," h...