Iona Cleave
A whistleblower who uncovered evidence linking a senior Trump administration official to Jeffrey Epstein has died by suicide.
Simon Andriesz, a former British banker who previously worked under Howard Lutnick, the former US commerce secretary, unearthed evidence that Mr Lutnick had failed to disclose a continued business relationship with the paedophile.
In August, Andriesz had spoken out about the “devastating” consequences of whistleblowing and suggested he had further evidence to expose.
Andy Agathangelou, founder of campaign group Transparency Task Force and a former colleague of Andriesz, confirmed his death, which was first reported by The Banker.
“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 on October 2. The exact date of his death has not been made public.
Lutnick, a long-time neighbour of Epstein’s in New York City, had initially claimed to have cut off all contact with the paedophile in 2005.
However, Andriesz uncovered among the trove of documents released by the US justice department in February emails between the two men that contradicted his claim.
He also claimed to have shared information regarding the two men’s relationship to the FBI in 2020 and 2021.
As well as showing continued business discussions, the emails revealed Lutnick travelled to Epstein’s private island in 2012 with his wife and daughters – three years after Epstein was released from jail for a child sex offence.
Under heavy scrutiny, the billionaire later acknowledged at a congressional hearing that he had met Epstein on three occasions, but insisted that each meeting was “meaningless and inconsequential”.
He has previously denied any wrongdoing or criminal conduct related to Epstein.
Andriesz was previously a managing director at Wall Street firm BGC Group, where Lutnick was chief executive.
In July, Andriesz featured in a BBC documentary entitled Epstein Files: Lutnick, the Royals and the British Whistleblower.
In it, he alleged that Lutnick’s financial services firm Cantor Fitzgerald wanted to agree a £1 million deal with Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor for introductions to wealthy individuals and sovereign institutions.
In February, The Telegraph reported on this prospective deal, which Epstein brokered but eventually collapsed. Cantor Fitzgerald has previously denied any business dealings with the former prince.
In his final post on X on August 9, Andriesz wrote: “The personal consequences of whistleblowing, and the retaliation I say followed, have been devastating for my family and me.”
He also indicated his story was not finished. “I intend to share more of the evidence and the story behind what happened.”
There have been several deaths among whistleblowers, survivors and associates connected to Epstein which have fuelled online speculation about an alleged conspiracy. However, official records attribute the deaths to suicide, mental health struggles or accidental causes.
Virginia Giuffre, one of Epstein’s highest-profile victims, died by suicide at the age of 41 last year.
Giuffre, who accused Mr Mountbatten-Windsor of sexual assault and abuse – claims he has always denied – had reportedly been struggling under the pressure of intense public scrutiny.
On Monday, a Democrat running for Congress in a Colorado district released a campaign ad that featured Giuffre’s family.
The advert accuses Republican representative Jeff Crank, who is facing a re-election race against Jessica Killin, of blocking the release of the Epstein files and refusing to meet with Giuffre’s relatives.
“Jeff Crank covered up Epstein’s crimes to protect Donald Trump,” says Sky Roberts, the brother of Giuffre, in the video. “He has no business being in Congress.”
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