A British trader who gave regulators evidence of business ties between Jeffrey Epstein and US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick has been found dead in Thailand, raising hard questions for UK regulators and for Lutnick's account of the relationship.

• Simon Andre, a former senior broker at Lutnick's firm BGC Partners, died in September; his family says he took his own life and there is no suggestion of foul play.
• He had taken evidence to the FBI and UK regulators since 2020 about financial wrongdoing at the firm and about Lutnick's dealings with Epstein.
• UK MPs now want an investigation into how the Financial Conduct Authority treated him, after the regulator had to apologize for giving him wrong advice about whistleblower protections.
• His digging turned up 2018 emails showing Lutnick and Epstein discussing a shared startup investment, plus a 2013 plan to go into business with Prince Andrew — undercutting Lutnick's claim he cut ties in 2005 and met Epstein only once.
• His earlier complaints already led to a $3 million US penalty against BGC for supervision and recordkeeping failures, and he said a £96 million tax assessment flowed from his disclosures.

Outlook: Pressure will build on the FCA to open a formal review, and on Lutnick to explain the email trail, while the string of deaths among Epstein associates keeps the case politically radioactive.