Leon Botstein, the long-serving president of Bard College, has announced he is stepping down after an independent review of his contacts with Jeffrey Epstein found that his frequent interactions with the convicted sex offender "could have alerted" him to the possibility that he and Bard would be facilitating Epstein's abuse of women. The investigation by the WilmerHale law firm, commissioned by Bard's board of trustees earlier this year, revealed that Botstein - who previously claimed he was not friends with Epstein - made about 25 visits to Epstein's townhouse, enjoyed a two-day stay at Epstein's Little St James Island, and hosted two visits by Epstein to Bard. These visits, the report noted, included "multiple women" who have since been identified as victims of Epstein.
Epstein and Botstein were in contact from 2012 to 2019, and Botstein has not been charged with wrongdoing. The review also found that a senior faculty member warned Botstein against engaging with Epstein, whom the president was courting as a donor. Instead of heeding that warning, Botstein relied on the view that "an ordinary sex offender" like Epstein could be presumed rehabilitated since he had served time. Botstein forcefully argued, according to WilmerHale, that "Bard's need for funds was paramount," adding, "I would take money from Satan if it permitted me to do God's work."
Bard's board of trustees received the findings on April 30 and announced Botstein's "retirement," effective June 30. The board expressed gratitude for Botstein's five decades of service and called for an "orderly transition." The review also raised questions about Botstein's financial interactions with Epstein: Botstein accepted fees under a consulting agreement with an Epstein entity in 2016 but did not disclose it to the board, claiming he intended to donate the funds to Bard. However, the documents could not confirm those contributions were separately identified from Epstein. The board said funds associated with Epstein would be directed to organizations supporting survivors of sexual harm.
Additionally, the review noted other invitations extended to Epstein - such as a stay at Bard's guest cottage, a concert by conservatory students, and a visit to Bard High School Early College - that were not accepted but could have "further exposed" Bard students to Epstein. Botstein said he did not see a risk to Bard's reputation or students, nor did he consider that his actions could legitimize Epstein to potential victims. The law firm concluded that Botstein "minimized and was not fully accurate in describing his relationship with Epstein." In his statement, Botstein did not address the findings, saying he had intended to retire due to his 51 years of service and upcoming eightieth birthday, and will remain a faculty member, teacher, and musician, living at Finberg House on campus.