A British banker who exposed Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick’s business ties to Jeffrey Epstein has died by suicide, according to The Banker, a death that raised eyebrows and drew the attention of Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY).
“It's not a game folks,” wrote New Jersey gubernatorial hopeful and businessman Matthew Wingell to the news of the British banker’s passing.
Simon Andriesz, who previously worked under Lutnick at a company owned by the Cantor Fitzgerald Group, shared details with House lawmakers earlier this year that revealed business links between Lutnick and Epstein, links that subsequent reporting revealed to have taken place as recently as 2014.
Andriesz found the connection by searching the Justice Department’s millions of public Epstein files for “HWL” — Lutnick’s initials — knowing Cantor Fitzgerald executives “preferred” to refer to one another by initials in emails. The revelations that Lutnick and Epstein “were in business together” as recently as 2014, and maintained contact with each other through at least 2018, flew in the face of Lutnick’s previous claim that he cut off contact with Epstein in 2005.
While Lutnick was forced to backtrack on his previous statements regarding Epstein, he has not been charged with a crime or accused of any wrongdoing.
Andriesz’s death at 57 years old was confirmed by Andy Agathangelou, who The Banker noted was the founder of a nonprofit organization that had hosted events “related to whistleblowing with Andriesz.”
“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, according to The Banker.
“And on it goes,” wrote British filmmaker, author and podcaster Richard Willett, reacting to the news of Andriesz’s death.
The online X profile for ParaPower Mapping, an independent research project and podcast hosted by Klonny Gosch, wrote, “It’s happening again” in response to Andriesz’s sudden death, a reference to the string of Epstein-linked figures being discovered dead at their homes.