Full Breakdown
Whistleblower Simon Andriesz Found Dead After Exposing Howard Lutnick’s Ties to Jeffrey Epstein
By Drooid · · How we work
The Fatal Outcome of a High-Profile Whistleblowing Campaign
Simon Andriesz, a 57-year-old former Wall Street banker, was found dead in Cornwall, England, in what authorities described as a suicide, according to The Banker. Andriesz had spent months combing through the Justice Department’s release of millions of Epstein-related files, locating an email chain that showed Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and Jeffrey Epstein discussing a joint investment in the digital-advertising firm Adfin. The material contradicted Lutnick’s earlier statements that his contact with Epstein was limited and that he cut off ties after a 2008 guilty plea.
Background: Lutnick’s Ongoing Relationship with Epstein
Lutnick, CEO of BGC Partners and former head of Cantor Fitzgerald, first met Epstein in 2005, according to his own testimony to a New York Post podcast. Email evidence uncovered by Andriesz shows that Lutnick and Epstein continued to correspond and meet at least through 2018, a decade after Epstein’s 2008 conviction for soliciting prostitution from a minor and a year before Epstein’s 2019 death in jail.
Official Statements & Responses
Lutnick told the Senate Appropriations Committee in February that his knowledge of Epstein’s investment in Adfin only emerged after the DOJ released the files earlier this year. He has since back-tracked on earlier denials but has not faced criminal charges. The Commerce Department and the FBI declined to comment when approached for comment on Andriesz’s death.
Criticism & Opposition
German author and former financial journalist Oliver Janich questioned the official suicide ruling, posting, “I don’t buy it,” and suggesting possible retaliation. Writer Peg Aloi called for a thorough investigation into the “untimely death,” emphasizing the need for transparency.
Verbatim Quotes
- “He said the retaliation had already wrecked his life, and that he was about to publish more,” — German, Rawstory
- “It is with great sadness that we share the news that Simon Andriesz, a valued member of our community, passed away last week,” — Andy Agathangelou, to the banker