Bard College’s president of 50 years steps down amid explosive revelations of deep ties to Jeffrey Epstein, raising alarms about elite accountability in academia.
Story Snapshot
- Leon Botstein, 79, retires June 30, 2026, after WilmerHale review exposed multiple meetings, island visit, and $150,000 donation from convicted sex offender Epstein.
- Review clears Botstein of crimes but slams poor judgment, inaccurate statements, and fundraising obsession over safety concerns.
- Justice Department files name Botstein over 2,500 times, fueling student protests linking Epstein access to Bard’s sexual misconduct history.
- Board praises Botstein’s legacy despite controversy, redirecting tainted funds to survivors while scrutiny intensifies.
Timeline of Ties and Scrutiny
Leon Botstein visited Jeffrey Epstein’s island in 2012. Epstein attended Bard’s 2013 graduation, arriving by helicopter on other visits accompanied by women later identified as victims. In 2016, Epstein donated $150,000 to Botstein, who directed it to the college. Despite Epstein’s 2008 conviction for sex crimes with a minor, Botstein emailed sympathy in November 2018 after Miami Herald reporting exposed the network. These facts emerged from 2026 Justice Department files listing Botstein’s name over 2,500 times, including “friendship” references.
Bard College's president to retire after scrutiny of relationship with Jeffrey Epstein https://t.co/wEvT3bjZo5
— The Washington Times (@WashTimes) May 2, 2026
WilmerHale Review Exposes Leadership Lapses
The Bard Board hired WilmerHale in March 2026 amid student protests. The firm’s late April report detailed 25 visits by Botstein to Epstein’s townhouse from 2012 to 2019, plus Epstein’s campus appearances. It criticized Botstein for minimizing the relationship, viewing Epstein as a rehabilitated “ordinary sex offender,” and prioritizing fundraising—he once said he’d take money from Satan for Bard. The review found no illegal actions but highlighted inaccurate public statements and failure to scrutinize Epstein’s behavior despite known 2008 guilty plea.
Botstein’s Defense and Retirement Announcement
Botstein, Bard president since 1975, initially denied personal friendship, framing contacts as fundraising-only. In 2023, he told the New York Times Epstein seemed rehabilitated. His Friday letter announced retirement effective June 30, citing review completion as in Bard’s best interest, without mentioning Epstein. He will remain as faculty and musician. The Board called him a transformative leader after 51 years, balancing legacy praise with the probe’s fallout.
Bard College's president to retire after scrutiny of relationship with Jeffrey Epstein https://t.co/Xpf5YDTz9Y
— Mybuddysully (@mybuddysully) May 2, 2026
Student Outrage and Broader Implications
Take Back Bard students protested in March 2026, demanding resignation and a probe into campus sexual abuse, tying Botstein’s Epstein tolerance to institutional failures. Epstein funds now support survivors. Short-term, Bard faces leadership transition and donor caution. Long-term, this spotlights elite academic ties to predators post-conviction, eroding trust in institutions meant to uphold moral standards. Both conservatives and liberals see this as deep state-style elite protectionism failing everyday Americans seeking accountability and the American Dream.
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Bard College president to retire after revelations of his ties to Epstein
Amid Epstein files fallout, Bard’s sexual misconduct history gets new scrutiny
