British Whistleblower Uncovers US Commerce Secretary's Ties to Epstein
A British man, Simon Andriesz, has informed the BBC about his discovery of evidence indicating that Howard Lutnick, the current US Commerce Secretary, failed to disclose a business relationship with Jeffrey Epstein, the late financier and convicted sex offender.
Andriesz, formerly a managing director at a Wall Street firm, uncovered an email chain from 2018 showing discussions between Lutnick and Epstein regarding their involvement in a start-up venture. He shared these findings with US politicians on the House Oversight Committee prior to Lutnick's appearance in May.
Commerce Secretary's Response
During his testimony, Lutnick claimed he was unaware of Epstein's investment in the company until this year. The US Commerce Department stated there was no evidence of wrongdoing. However, Andriesz discovered that one of Lutnick's firms considered partnering with another Epstein associate, then-Prince Andrew, in 2013.
"What it involved was a loan to Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor of £1m... to basically buy a prince," Andriesz told File on 4 Investigates.
Whistleblower's Investigation into Epstein Files
Andriesz, who now resides in Cornwall, stumbled upon his name in the extensive Epstein files, a collection of documents released by the US government. These documents included his interviews with the FBI during a dispute with his former employer, BGC Partners, a brokerage firm under Lutnick's Cantor Fitzgerald group.
In 2016, Andriesz raised concerns about accounting irregularities at BGC, leading to his dismissal in 2017. The US derivatives regulator later fined BGC $3 million for various violations. BGC dismissed Andriesz's claims as "categorically false," stating that investigations found no substantiation.
Despite this, Andriesz provided the FBI with information regarding Lutnick's undisclosed business ties with Epstein, although the FBI did not pursue these allegations. Andriesz expressed disappointment over the lack of interest in his findings.
Inconsistencies in Lutnick's Account
In 2025, Lutnick became US Commerce Secretary, selling his shares in Cantor Fitzgerald to his sons. He claimed only to have met Epstein once, two decades ago, during a podcast. However, a released photo from the Epstein files showed Lutnick with Epstein on the financier's private island in 2012.
Andriesz suspected more evidence existed within the 3.5 million pages of Epstein files. He searched using initials "HWL" for Howard William Lutnick and discovered emails from 2018, revealing discussions about a digital advertising company called Adfin, in which both Epstein and Cantor Fitzgerald had invested.
Lutnick reiterated to the committee that he was unaware of Epstein's co-investment in Adfin until this year. Despite Democrats on the committee accusing him of lying and demanding his resignation, the US Commerce Department dismissed the allegations as "a desperate partisan distraction."
Curious Connections with Royalty
Andriesz also discovered links between Lutnick and figures close to Epstein, including then-Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson. Lutnick, a friend of Ferguson since the 1990s, had considered a business deal in 2013 to leverage Andrew's connections.
Documents indicated Cantor Fitzgerald proposed a £1 million loan to a firm controlled by Andrew, contingent on exclusive business dealings. The deal, however, was never finalized. Cantor Fitzgerald acknowledged discussions but denied entering business with Andrew. Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor did not comment.
Aftermath for the Whistleblower
Andriesz, now 57, lives in a quiet village in Cornwall, far removed from his Wall Street past. His whistleblowing efforts earned him a $420,000 award from a US regulator, but he asserts that authorities have not adequately held his former employers accountable or protected him from retaliation. BGC denies any retaliation against Andriesz, citing his employment termination as due to his failure to follow medical advice and perform job duties.
The White House defended Lutnick, condemning the BBC's report as an attempt to undermine the Commerce Secretary's achievements.
Source: Original Article
