Hyatt Hotels Executive Chairman Thomas Pritzker Resigns Amid Epstein Scandal
Thomas Pritzker, the executive chairman of Hyatt Hotels Corporation, has announced his immediate retirement from the position following the disclosure of his connections to convicted sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein in documents released by the U.S. Department of Justice. The 75-year-old hotel magnate, who is a cousin of Illinois Governor JB Pritzker, served as executive chairman for over two decades before stepping down.
Pritzker Expresses Regret and Condemns Actions
In a prepared statement, Pritzker expressed profound remorse for his association with both Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell, Epstein's longtime associate who is currently serving a 20-year prison sentence for sex trafficking. "I exercised terrible judgment in maintaining contact with them, and there is no excuse for failing to distance myself sooner," Pritzker stated. He added, "I condemn the actions and the harm caused by Epstein and Maxwell and I feel deep sorrow for the pain they inflicted on their victims."
DOJ Documents Reveal Ongoing Communications
The recently unsealed cache of Epstein-related documents includes numerous emails between Pritzker and Epstein, detailing attempts to arrange dinner meetings and invitations to various social functions. Notably, these interactions persisted even after Epstein pleaded guilty in 2008 to soliciting prostitution from a minor. Emails made public late last year indicate that Epstein's criminal conviction did little to deter his network from maintaining ties with the financier.
Jeffrey Epstein died by suicide while incarcerated in 2019, but the fallout from his associations continues to impact high-profile individuals across multiple sectors.
Leadership Transition at Hyatt
Hyatt CEO Mark Hoplamazian will succeed Pritzker as chairman of the board. Hyatt, a global hospitality leader, operates more than 1,500 hotels and all-inclusive resorts in over 83 countries worldwide. The company has not issued additional comments beyond confirming Pritzker's retirement and the leadership change.
Broader Fallout from Epstein Connections
The revelations of ties to Epstein have led to a series of high-profile departures in recent days, underscoring the widespread repercussions within elite circles:
- Dubai's DP World: Last week, Dubai replaced the chairman of DP World, one of the world's largest logistics companies, due to his connections with Epstein.
- Goldman Sachs: Kathy Ruemmler, the top lawyer at Goldman Sachs and former White House counsel to President Barack Obama, resigned after emails showed a close relationship with Epstein, where she described him as an "older brother" and minimized his sex crimes.
- Paul, Weiss Law Firm: Earlier this month, Brad Karp resigned as chairman of the prestigious law firm Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison, citing that news coverage of his exchanges with Epstein had "created a distraction." Karp had led the firm since 2008.
- British Royal Family: Late last year, King Charles III stripped his brother, formerly Prince Andrew, of all titles and honors due to his relationship with Epstein. This month, King Charles stated he is ready to support UK police investigating claims that his brother provided confidential information to Epstein.
The ongoing investigations and document releases continue to expose the extent of Epstein's network, prompting accountability measures and resignations among the powerful and influential.
