FCA Investigates Handling of Whistleblower Who Alleged Lutnick-Epstein Ties

The Financial Conduct Authority has launched an internal investigation into its handling of Simon Andriesz, a former BGC Group managing director and whistleblower who died by suicide last month. Andriesz had alleged that Howard Lutnick, the US commerce secretary and former BGC chief executive, maintained undeclared business ties with sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

Andriesz claimed the regulator failed to hold BGC and its parent company, Cantor Fitzgerald, accountable and provided him with misleading information regarding his eligibility for whistleblower protection. In response, the regulator appointed board member Lea Paterson to review the case.

The all-party parliamentary group on investment fraud and fairer financial services criticized the internal review, describing it as the regulator marking its own homework. Group chair John McDonnell has demanded an independent forensic evaluation of the regulator's whistleblower protocols.

Howard Lutnick has denied any personal or professional relationship with Epstein, and BGC Group has disputed the allegations made by Andriesz.