Hyatt Hotels chair steps down over Epstein association

Tom Pritzker resigned as executive chair of the Hyatt Hotels Corporation on Monday, citing his association with the convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein as reason for the departure. 

Files released by the Justice Department show Pritzker was in close contact with Epstein in the years after Epstein’s 2008 plea deal for procuring a minor for prostitution.

“Good stewardship also means protecting Hyatt, particularly in the context of my association with Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell which I deeply regret,” Pritzker wrote in a letter to the company’s board, according to The New York Times.

“I exercised terrible judgment in maintaining contact with them, and there is no excuse for failing to distance myself sooner,” he added.

Pritzker, 75, has served as chair since 2004 and announced that he would not seek reelection for the role in May. 

Hyatt Hotels President Mark S. Hoplamazian was appointed to the chair’s role in Pritzker’s absence, according to The New York Times.

Pritzker is one of multiple businessmen seen in the Epstein files. 

Casey Wasserman, Larry Summers and several European diplomats have stepped down from their posts after being named in the 3 million documents released by the Justice Department. 

Pritzker has not been accused of wrongdoing but did communicate with Epstein about his interaction with girls.

In one email sent from Pritzker in 2018, he helped facilitate travel to Asia for one of Epstein’s partners looking to help him gain another girlfriend.  

In another email sent in 2010, Epstein says to Pritzker: “The girl from Romania that you met at my house, is currently living in london, can we see if there is a starting position in any of the hotels,” according to NBC 5 Chicago.

Pritzker writes, “Have her send me a resume. I can have her interviewed, no idea if they are hiring.”

Epstein responds, “great.”