Man Who Allegedly Tipped off Congress About Howard Lutnick and Epstein Ties Reportedly Found Dead

British banker Simon Andriesz, who alerted US lawmakers to documents concerning Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and Jeffrey Epstein, has reportedly died by suicide at 57, according to The Banker.

Andriesz, a former Wall Street banker who worked under Lutnick, shared a 2018 email chain with members of the House Oversight Committee earlier this year. The material concerned correspondence between Lutnick and Epstein about Adfin, a digital advertising company in which both had invested.

The reported death comes months after Andriesz drew attention to documents that appeared to conflict with Lutnick's previous account of his relationship with Epstein. The material included a 2018 email exchange involving Lutnick and Epstein, according to the report.

Simon Andriesz Raised Questions Over Lutnick's Epstein Relationship

For context, Andriesz had worked at BGC Partners, where Lutnick was CEO at the time. According to the report, he searched the released Epstein documents using Lutnick's initials, 'HWL', after recalling that executives at the brokerage commonly used initials in emails.

That search reportedly led him to a 2018 email chain in which Lutnick and Epstein discussed Adfin, a digital advertising company in which both had invested, according to the report. Andriesz subsequently shared the material with members of the House Oversight Committee.

The correspondence raised questions because it appeared to conflict with Lutnick's previous public account of when he ended contact with Epstein. Lutnick said he met Epstein in 2005 after he and his wife moved next door to him, but said he later cut contact after becoming uncomfortable during a visit to Epstein's Manhattan home.

What Did Simon Andriesz Tell the FBI?

Andriesz's concerns about Lutnick reportedly predated his decision to alert Congress.

According to a BBC report, Andriesz spoke to the FBI in 2020 and 2021. He alleged that Lutnick had undeclared business ties to Epstein during the FBI's investigation into some of his claims concerning BGC Partners. The FBI did not investigate the accusations.

According to the report, Andriesz was fired from BGC after raising internal concerns about alleged accounting irregularities. His earlier complaints and later review of the Epstein files brought renewed attention to allegations concerning Lutnick's relationship with Epstein.

The allegations were not established findings, and the available reporting does not indicate that the FBI substantiated them.

Why Was Howard Lutnick's Epstein Relationship Under Scrutiny?

Lutnick told the Senate Appropriations Committee in February that he and his family had travelled to Epstein's island in 2012.

Lutnick reportedly told the committee, 'I don't recall why we did it', when discussing the family trip to Epstein's island.

During a House Oversight Committee interview on 6 May, Lutnick said he only learned that Epstein had invested in Adfin after the Epstein files were released.

Documents and Lutnick's testimony raised questions about how long his relationship with Epstein continued and what business connections, if any, existed between them.

The correspondence is dated to 2018, a decade after Epstein pleaded guilty in 2008 to soliciting prostitution from a minor.

Simon Andriesz's Death Confirmed by Transparency Task Force Founder

Andriesz's death was confirmed to The Banker by Andy Agathangelou, founder of the Transparency Task Force, which had previously hosted Andriesz at whistleblowing events.

'It is with great sadness that we share the news that Simon Andriesz, a valued member of our community, passed away last week,' Agathangelou told The Banker.

Andriesz was living in Cornwall, England, as of July, according to BBC reporting cited by The Daily Beast. The Commerce Department and FBI did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Nothing in the reporting establishes a link between Andriesz's death and his whistleblowing. The allegations concerning Lutnick's relationship with Epstein also remain disputed and should be treated as such.