British Banking Whistleblower Who Exposed Lutnick's Epstein Ties Dies; Ruled Suicide
A British banking whistleblower who helped uncover previously undisclosed ties between Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein has died at 57, The Banker reports.
Simon Andriesz, a veteran of the financial industry who previously served as a managing director at BGC Group, emerged as a key figure in scrutinizing Lutnick's past contacts with Epstein after digging through the massive trove of documents released in connection with the disgraced financier.
Andriesz's death was confirmed by Andy Agathangelou, founder of the Transparency Task Force, where Andriesz had previously spoken about his experiences as a whistleblower.
"It is with great sadness that we share the news that Simon Andriesz, a valued member of our community, passed away last week," Agathangelou said in a statement obtained by The Banker, which reports that he died by suicide.
Andriesz made headlines after uncovering documents that raised fresh questions about Lutnick's past relationship with Epstein.
Among the records was a 2018 email exchange in which Lutnick and Epstein discussed a startup in which both men had an interest, according to the BBC.
I am the British whistleblower who reported evidence concerning Howard Lutnick, his links to Jeffrey Epstein, and Cantor Fitzgerald and BGC to the FBI in 2020–21. Listen to the BBC File on 4 documentary about my whistleblower story: https://t.co/rLRDnZA4Dv BBC News: https://t.co/DdNNOosnKL I later shared evidence with the House Oversight Committee, which subsequently questioned Lutnick behind closed doors. My disclosures also contributed to regulatory action in the US and UK, including a £96m HMRC tax assessment relating to BGC’s partnership scheme. I believe the true tax exposure is substantially higher. I also reported to the FBI and financial regulators matters involving Cantor Fitzgerald’s Relief Fund and BGC/Cantor’s annual 9/11 Charity Day. The personal consequences of whistleblowing, and the retaliation I say followed, have been devastating for my family and me. Mother Jones previously reported that documents I uncovered revealed a years-long business tie between Howard Lutnick, Cantor Fitzgerald and Jeffrey Epstein through AdFin, including a 2018 exchange in which Lutnick and Epstein discussed the company directly: https://t.co/aRdn302v4i https://t.co/aRdn302v4i Follow me here on X and on LinkedIn. I intend to share more of the evidence and the story behind what happened.
— Simon Andriesz (@SAndriesz) August 9, 2026
The revelation drew particular attention because Lutnick had previously portrayed his relationship with Epstein as having ended years earlier.
Andriesz brought his findings to members of the House Oversight Committee before Lutnick appeared before lawmakers in May, putting the veteran banker at the center of renewed scrutiny surrounding the Epstein files.
Simon Andriesz @SAndriesz has died. He took his own life this week, while staying at a trauma treatment centre, the same place he had gone to try to survive what years of fighting had done to him. I wrote the piece below about him at the start of August. We last spoke on 13 August. Reading my own words back now feels different. Heavier. I did not know then that this would be the last chapter. Simon gave me his story directly. The embezzlement he uncovered, the fraud he reported, the heart attacks, the police complaints, the years @TheFCA spent doing almost nothing while his life fell apart around him. He handed the CFTC and HMRC enough to secure real fines. He handed the BBC enough for a full documentary. And still the one regulator that was supposed to protect him let him carry all of it alone for 7 years. He was one of the most credible people I have ever spoken to. Everything he told me checked out. And he still ended up broken by the very system meant to catch people like him when they fell. I am angry writing this. Angry that a man this capable, this thorough, this willing to hand over evidence and testimony for years, was left to fight completely alone until he could not fight anymore. Simon Andriesz deserved better. Rest in peace. If you are struggling right now, please do not go through it alone. Samaritans are free, 24 hours, on 116 123. @TransparencyTF @stevemiddi1 @MLorrM @JohnCleese @premnsikka @johnmcdonnellMP @Victoria_Rixon @DennyTWright
— Artur Nadolny (@ArturNadol7566) September 25, 2026
The documents also reportedly shed light on a proposed 2013 business arrangement involving Cantor Fitzgerald and then-Prince Andrew.
Under the proposal, £1 million would have been loaned to a company controlled by Andrew in exchange for introductions to wealthy individuals and institutions.
Lutnick has repeatedly sought to distance himself from Epstein, telling House investigators: "I unequivocally condemn the conduct attributed to Jeffrey Epstein and everyone who participated in his illegal activities. The survivors of his crimes deserve our respect and support."
Andriesz's death follows those of several figures tied to the Epstein case in recent years.
French modeling agent Jean-Luc Brunel, a longtime Epstein associate accused of supplying girls to the financier, was found dead in his Paris jail cell in 2022, with authorities later concluding that he died by suicide. Steven Hoffenberg, Epstein's former boss and mentor at Towers Financial, was found dead in his Connecticut apartment later that year, with an autopsy showing no signs of trauma.
More recently, French modeling agent Daniel Siad, who corresponded extensively with Epstein and introduced young women and teenage girls to him, was found dead at his home outside Paris in July 2026. French prosecutors said an autopsy found no signs of violence, while the exact cause of death remained under investigation. There is no evidence establishing that these deaths are connected.