Brief
Whistleblower who linked former US commerce secretary to Epstein found dead
Simon Andriesz, a former banker who alleged undisclosed business ties between Howard Lutnick and Jeffrey Epstein, was found dead by suicide.
By Felo News Desk · Published
Simon Andriesz, a former British banker who claimed to have uncovered evidence of a continued business relationship between former US commerce secretary Howard Lutnick and Jeffrey Epstein, was found dead by suicide, SMH reported.
What happened
Andriesz, who had previously worked under Lutnick at Cantor Fitzgerald, said he discovered emails showing Lutnick’s ongoing dealings with Epstein, including a 2012 trip to Epstein’s private island with his family. He told the BBC in a July documentary that he intended to expose further evidence. On August 9, he posted on X about the personal toll of whistleblowing. His death was confirmed by Bloomberg’s Andy Agathangelou, founder of Transparency Task Force, who said the exact date of death has not been disclosed.
What the reports add
SMH notes that Andriesz claimed to have shared his findings with the FBI in 2020 and 2021. The article also cites a February US Justice Department document release that included the emails. It mentions that Lutnick, who had previously denied wrongdoing, later admitted meeting Epstein three times, describing the encounters as “meaningless and inconsequential.”
What was said
Andy Agathangelou said, “It is with great sadness that we share the news that Simon Andriesz, a valued member of our community, passed away last week,” in a statement reported by SMH.
How it came about
Andriesz’s allegations built on a trove of documents released by the US Justice Department in February, which revealed email exchanges contradicting Lutnick’s 2005 claim of having cut off contact with Epstein. Earlier, the Norwegian parliament launched hearings on alleged Epstein ties, highlighting the broader international scrutiny of Epstein’s network.
Key facts
- Simon Andriesz, a former British banker, was found dead by suicide. (smh.com.au)
- Andriesz claimed to have uncovered emails showing Howard Lutnick’s continued business relationship with Jeffrey Epstein. (smh.com.au)
- Andy Agathangelou of Bloomberg confirmed Andriesz’s death. (smh.com.au)
Sources
- [1] smh.com.au — originally reported as “Whistleblower who linked Lutnick to Epstein found dead”
