Simon Andriesz, a British banker who revealed connections between Jeffrey Epstein and US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, was found dead from hanging in Thailand on September 23. His death occurred in a town near Bangkok. Andriesz had claimed that Lutnick, a former aide to Donald Trump, did not disclose a business relationship with Epstein, which he alleged was evidenced by emails from 2018 discussing a start-up venture. Epstein died in prison in 2019 after being convicted in 2008 for soliciting prostitution from a minor.
The Khlong Luang Town municipality recorded Andriesz's death, listing the cause as 'asphyxiation from hanging'. His family released a statement expressing their grief and highlighting his commitment to speaking out against wrongdoing. They emphasized their hope that Andriesz would be remembered for his courage and the issues he sought to address.
A GoFundMe page has been established by a friend for Andriesz's son's education and future opportunities, with a target of £35,000. Andy Agathangelou, founder of the Transparency Task Force, confirmed Andriesz's death, describing him as a whistleblower who stood up for what was right. Andriesz had previously presented his findings to US politicians on the House Oversight Committee before Lutnick's appearance in May. Lutnick stated he only learned this year of Epstein's investment in his firm, while the US Commerce Department claimed there was no evidence of wrongdoing.
Additionally, Andriesz had disclosed to the BBC that one of Lutnick's firms had planned a business venture with Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor in 2013, which did not materialize. Andriesz had worked in the securities industry for 35 years before being dismissed from BGC Group in 2017. BGC has disputed Andriesz's allegations but expressed condolences to his family following his death. MPs have called for an investigation into the treatment of whistleblowers by the Financial Conduct Authority after Andriesz raised concerns about the links between Lutnick and Epstein.