Thomas Pritzker Resigns from Hyatt Over Epstein Ties

Thomas Pritzker, who is related to Illinois Governor JB Pritzker, stepped down as executive chairman of Hyatt Hotels Corporation on Monday due to his connections with sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

The Department of Justice released nearly 3 million files on February 1, revealing Pritzker’s frequent communications with Epstein after his 2008 plea deal regarding prostitution charges. Pritzker expressed deep regret about his associations with Epstein and his former business partner, Ghislaine Maxwell, in a resignation letter to the board, as reported by The New York Times.

“Protecting Hyatt meant protecting Hyatt, especially in relation to Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell, and I deeply regret it,” he stated, according to the newspaper.

Documents show that Pritzker and Epstein communicated often to arrange meetings and meals, including visits to Epstein’s townhouse in Manhattan. In one instance from 2018, Epstein asked Pritzker for help in arranging a trip for his girlfriend, Karina Schliak, to “find a new girlfriend” for him.

When she inquired about her plans for the trip, Pritzker responded playfully with a smiley emoji and wrote, “May the force be with you.”

In a separate email from 2015, Epstein joked about merging their plans and mentioned an invitation to the Pulitzer Prize ceremony.

Epstein was first charged with prostitution in 2006 following a 2005 investigation into his inappropriate behavior with a teenager.

Pritzker also informed the board that he wouldn’t seek reelection at the company’s upcoming shareholder meeting in May.

Governor JB Pritzker, worth an estimated $3.9 billion mostly due to family business interests, has been considered a potential presidential candidate for 2028. He’s known for opposing some of former President Trump’s policies, including sending the National Guard to Chicago.

The files indicated that Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick had at least two interactions with Epstein between 2011 and 2012, including a lunch during a vacation. Communications were also found between Epstein and former White House adviser Steve Bannon from 2018 and 2019, alongside a controversial photo of Prince Andrew.

Moreover, Epstein made unsent claims in emails that Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates contracted a sexually transmitted disease from a Russian prostitute and attempted to keep this a secret from his then-wife, Melinda. Gates has denied ever visiting Epstein’s island or meeting the alleged woman.