British whistleblower exposes hidden ties between US commerce secretary and Epstein

Sun Sep 06 2026 10:32:58 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

UK whistleblower uncovers emails linking US commerce secretary Howard Lutnick to Jeffrey Epstein, sparking congressional scrutiny and calls for resignation.

A former trader named Simon Andriesz traced a 2018 email chain that revealed Howard Lutnick, now the US Commerce Secretary, had undisclosed business discussions with the convicted financier Jeffrey Epstein. The findings were presented to the House Oversight Committee, leading Democrats to demand Lutnick’s resignation. Additional documents uncovered possible dealings with Prince Andrew and a £1m loan tied to the former royal’s business. Despite these revelations, Lutnick has denied wrongdoing and the Commerce Department cites no evidence of misconduct. Andriesz, who now lives in Cornwall, reports that the whistleblowing has harmed his career and health, while the financial industry remains resistant to accountability.

UK whistleblower exposes hidden ties between US commerce secretary and Epstein

A former trading executive, Simon Andriesz, uncovered a 2018 email chain linking Howard Lutnick, who in 2025 was appointed US commerce secretary, to the infamous financier Jeffrey Epstein.

Andriesz found the correspondence among the millions of documents released by the FBI in 2024. The emails showed conversations about a joint digital advertising venture called Adfin, in which both Lutnick’s firm—in the Cantor Fitzgerald group—and Epstein had invested.

He presented the evidence to the House Oversight Committee, a key congressional investigative body, just months before Lutnick was scheduled to appear before it. When asked, Lutnick insisted he had only learned of Epstein’s involvement this year, claiming no knowledge of any prior relationship.

Despite Lutnick’s denials, committee members demanded his resignation, citing a pattern of concealed connections and alleged misconduct. The Commodity & Public Sector Department responded that the allegations were a “desperate partisan distraction” and that no evidence of wrongdoing had been found.

Further scrutiny arose when Andriesz highlighted other documents that linked Lutnick to Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson. The files described a 2013 plan for a £1m loan to a company controlled by the former prince, intended to create an exclusive business link with Cantor Fitzgerald—a deal that ultimately did not materialise.

Andriesz, now 57, lives in a quiet Cornish seaside village and says the accusations have devastated his career, finances and health. He has received a financial award for his whistleblowing but still calls on regulators to hold BGC and Cantor Fitzgerald accountable for retaliation.

The revelations underscore the complex web of financial, political and royal associations that can remain hidden until the meticulous review of leaked data brings them to light.