British whistleblower who flagged links between top Trump official Howard Lutnick and Jeffrey Epstein is found dead

British banker Simon Andriesz has died aged 57, five months after revealing links between Jeffrey Epstein and US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick.The whistleblower claimed his former employer Mr Lutnick – a key aide of Donald Trump - failed to disclose a business relationship with the paedophile financier.His death was confirmed by Andy Agathangelou, founder of the Transparency Task Force (TTF) campaign group which had held events on whistleblowing with him.Mr Agathangelou described Mr Andriesz, who died last month, as a 'whistleblower who stood up for what was right' and a 'valued member of our community'.Mr Andriesz uncovered emails from 2018 which he claimed showed Mr Lutnick and Epstein were discussing a start-up business in which they had involvement.Epstein died in prison one year later. The messages were exchanged a decade after the sex offender was convicted in 2008 for soliciting prostitution from a child.Mr Andriesz revealed his findings – taken from the Epstein files - with US politicians on the House Oversight Committee, before Mr Lutnick appeared before them in May.Mr Lutnick insisted he only learned this year that Epstein had been an investor in the firm, while the US Commerce Department claimed no evidence of wrongdoing.Separately, Mr Andriesz also later revealed to the BBC that one of Mr Lutnick's firms had planned in 2013 to go into business with Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor. British banker Simon Andriesz, who used to work for BGC Group, has died aged 57 Jeffrey Epstein (centre) and Howard Lutnick (right) on Little St James, in the Epstein filesMr Andriesz claimed the target was to commercially exploit contacts made by the former UK trade envoy, through a £1million loan to 'basically buy a prince'.Mr Lutnick was friends with Andrew's ex-wife Sarah Ferguson and a guest at their daughter Princess Eugenie's wedding in 2018, but the deal never happened. Soon after the revelations were published, Mr Andriesz spoke at a TTF event about how his career, health and family had all suffered from his whistleblowing.Mr Andriesz, who was recently living in Cornwall, previously worked as managing director at Wall Street firm BGC Group where Mr Lutnick was chief executive.Mr Andriesz was also named in the Epstein files, relating to interviews he gave the FBI while in dispute with BGC over his concerns about accounting irregularities.TTF community member and financial services expert Paul Callin said Mr Andriesz 'bravely fought alone for several years doing what he believed was right in exposing evidence of wrongdoing'.He added that Mr Andriesz 'as a lone and vulnerable voice was let down by some of those who he needed to trust and who were able to make a difference'.Mr Callin continued: 'It is a tragedy that he felt so let down, how he sadly saw no way out recently and was lost. US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick stands next to President Donald Trump in February'To all Simon's family and friends, please stay strong, the pain must be unimaginable, and you, along with Simon, are in the thoughts of so many around the world.'The words will never be right or adequate, but so many are there supporting you, even if not present or apparent, both now and in the weeks, months and years to come.'Mr Andriesz spent 35 years working in the securities industry before he was sacked in 2017. BGC previously insisted his allegations were 'categorically false', and remained unsubstantiated following investigations by authorities in several jurisdictions.Bosses insisted he was sacked after he refused to follow medical advice or perform essential duties, rejected reasonable accommodation and abandoned his role.Mr Lutnick has previously said he met Epstein three times, adding: 'I unequivocally condemn the conduct attributed to Jeffrey Epstein and everyone who participated in his illegal activities. The survivors of his crimes deserve our respect and support.'And a White House statement to the BBC said in July: 'The BBC's pathetic and desperate attempt to slander Secretary Lutnick will do nothing to change the fact that he has been the most consequential Commerce Secretary in modern history.'Mr Trump also associated with Epstein and was photographed with him several times in the 1990s and early 2000s, but has always denied knowledge of his sex offending.