Howard Lutnick and the Jeffrey Epstein Connections Uncovered by British Whistleblower
Simon Andriesz, a former managing director at a Wall Street firm, has revealed email evidence that Howard Lutnick, now the US Commerce Secretary, had undisclosed business ties with the late financier Jeffrey Epstein.
During a review of the millions of documents released from the Epstein case, Andriesz found a 2018 email chain in which Lutnick and Epstein discussed a start‑up venture, Adfin, that both had invested in. The exchange shows Epstein asking, ‘what do you think the prospects for Adfin are?’ while Lutnick replied, ‘Producing revenue finally. This is their year. Next 12 months they need to become economically self‑sufficient.’
Andriesz took the findings to the House Oversight Committee, informing lawmakers ahead of a May hearing where Lutnick was scheduled to appear. Lutnick’s defence, by the Commerce Department, stated the documents contain no evidence of wrongdoing and that he had only become aware of Epstein’s investment in Adfin this year.
During a 2012 snapshot discovered in the Epstein files, Lutnick is seen on an interview with Epstein at Epstein’s private island, Little St James. Lutnick’s earlier claim of a single meeting twenty years earlier is contradicted by the photograph.
Another revelation from the files concerns a plan in 2013 that the Cantor Fitzgerald firm – Lutnick’s former company – wanted to give a £1 million loan to Prince Andrew Mountbatten‑Windsor so that the prince’s firm would do business exclusively with Cantor. The deal faced warnings from Epstein’s aide and never went ahead.
Democratic members of the committee accused Lutnick of lying and issued a letter demanding his resignation. The US Commerce Department dismissed the claims as partisan distraction. Lutnick’s office remains uncommitted to engaging in the alleged deals.
Andriesz, now living quietly in Cornwall, feels the fallout from his whistleblowing has severely damaged his career and finances. He has won a $420,000 award from a US regulator but claims regulators have failed to hold BGC Partners and Cantor Fitzgerald to account or protect him from retaliation.
