Hyatt Hotels chairman Thomas Pritzker steps down over Epstein ties | Donald Trump News
Pritzker Steps Down as Hyatt Executive Chairman Amid Epstein-Related Controversy
Billionaire Thomas J. Pritzker has resigned as executive chairman of Hyatt Hotels Corporation, effective immediately, following revelations of his longstanding associations with convicted sex offenders Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell. The decision came in light of newly released documents from the U.S. Justice Department.
Pritzker, 75, announced his resignation on Monday and stated he would not seek re-election to the company’s board during the upcoming 2026 annual stockholder meeting. He has held the executive chairman position since 2004.
In a letter addressed to the Hyatt board, Pritzker expressed regret regarding his contact with Epstein, who died in prison in 2019, and Maxwell, acknowledging it as a lapse in judgment. He noted, “Good stewardship also means protecting Hyatt, particularly in the context of my association with Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell, which I deeply regret. I exercised terrible judgment in maintaining contact with them, and there is no excuse for failing to distance myself sooner.”
The Justice Department’s recently released documents indicate that Pritzker maintained regular contact with Epstein for years after Epstein’s conviction on sex crime charges in 2008, as reported by The New York Times.
Pritzker joins a growing list of high-profile individuals facing consequences related to Epstein’s extensive network. Goldman Sachs Chief Legal Counsel Kathryn Ruemmler resigned last week due to her ties to Epstein. In Norway, police investigated properties owned by former Prime Minister Thorbjorn Jagland as part of a broader corruption inquiry linked to Epstein.
Additionally, Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem, head of DP Ports World, the largest port operator globally, was replaced following revelations of his close ties to Epstein. Economist Larry Summers also resigned from the board of OpenAI late last year, citing similar concerns.
Peter Mandelson, the former UK ambassador to the U.S., has been asked to cooperate in a U.S. congressional investigation into Epstein. In correspondence from U.S. Representatives Robert Garcia and Suhas Subramanyam, lawmakers requested Mandelson’s availability for a transcribed interview due to his extensive social and business connections with Epstein. Mandelson was appointed ambassador in February 2025 but was removed from the position in September 2025 after new information surfaced about his ties to Epstein.
The controversies surrounding these individuals have sparked criticism of UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, especially in light of the Mandelson situation, leading to calls for his resignation from opponents who question his judgment in the ambassadorial appointment. Subsequently, his chief of staff and cabinet secretary have also stepped down.
