A whistleblower who uncovered evidence linking a senior Trump administration official to Jeffrey Epstein has died by suicide.
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who → uncover → suicide
Simon Andriesz, a former British banker who previously worked under Howard Lutnick, the former US commerce secretary, unearthed evidence that Mr Lutnick had failed to disclose a continued business relationship with the paedophile.
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Lutnick → work → paedophile
In August, Andriesz had spoken out about the “devastating” consequences of whistleblowing and suggested he had further evidence to expose.
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he → speak → evidence
Andy Agathangelou, founder of campaign group Transparency Task Force and a former colleague of Andriesz, confirmed his death, which was first reported by The Banker.
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which → confirm → Banker
“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 in a statement on October 2.
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Agathangelou → share → October
The exact date of his death has not been made public.
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date → make → death
Lutnick, a long-time neighbour of Epstein’s in New York City, had initially claimed to have cut off all contact with the paedophile in 2005.
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Lutnick → claim → 2005
However, Andriesz uncovered among the trove of documents released by the US justice department in February emails between the two men that contradicted his claim.
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that → uncover → claim
He also claimed to have shared information regarding the two men’s relationship to the FBI in 2020 and 2021.
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He → claim → 2020
As well as showing continued business discussions, the emails revealed Lutnick travelled to Epstein’s private island in 2012 with his wife and daughters – three years after Epstein was released from jail for a child sex offence.
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Epstein → show → offence
Under heavy scrutiny, the billionaire later acknowledged at a congressional hearing that he had met Epstein on three occasions, but insisted that each meeting was “meaningless and inconsequential”.
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meeting → acknowledge → occasions
He has previously denied any wrongdoing or criminal conduct related to Epstein.
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He → deny → Epstein
In July, Andriesz featured in a BBC documentary entitled Epstein Files: Lutnick, the Royals and the British Whistleblower.
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Andriesz → feature → documentary
In it, he alleged that Lutnick’s financial services firm Cantor Fitzgerald wanted to agree a £1 million deal with Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor for introductions to wealthy individuals and sovereign institutions.
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firm → allege → individuals
In February, The Telegraph reported on this prospective deal, which Epstein brokered but eventually collapsed.
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Epstein → report → which
Cantor Fitzgerald has previously denied any business dealings with the former prince.
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Fitzgerald → deny → prince
In his final post on X on August 9, Andriesz wrote: “The personal consequences of whistleblowing, and the retaliation I say followed, have been devastating for my family and me.”
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I → write → family
He also indicated his story was not finished.
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story → indicate → ?
“I intend to share more of the evidence and the story behind what happened.”
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what → intend → evidence
There have been several deaths among whistleblowers, survivors and associates connected to Epstein which have fuelled online speculation about an alleged conspiracy.
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which → connect → conspiracy
However, official records attribute the deaths to suicide, mental health struggles or accidental causes.
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records → attribute → suicide
Virginia Giuffre, one of Epstein’s highest-profile victims, died by suicide at the age of 41 last year.
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Giuffre → die → 41
Giuffre, who accused Mr Mountbatten-Windsor of sexual assault and abuse – claims he has always denied – had reportedly been struggling under the pressure of intense public scrutiny.
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he → accuse → scrutiny
On Monday, a Democrat running for Congress in a Colorado district released a campaign ad that featured Giuffre’s family.
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that → run → family
The advert accuses Republican representative Jeff Crank, who is facing a re-election race against Jessica Killin, of blocking the release of the Epstein files and refusing to meet with Giuffre’s relatives.
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who → accuse → relatives
“Jeff Crank covered up Epstein’s crimes to protect Donald Trump,” says Sky Roberts, the brother of Giuffre, in the video.
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Roberts → cover → video
“He has no business being in Congress.”
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He → have → Congress
The Telegraph, London
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what → get → world