Bard College President Leon Botstein Steps Down Amid Epstein Ties Scandal

Leon Botstein, the longtime president of Bard College, announced his retirement effective at the end of June, months after documents revealed his deep and troubling connections to Jeffrey Epstein. Botstein, 79, who has led the small liberal arts college in New York for nearly 50 years, waited to make his departure public until after an independent investigation into his relationship with Epstein was completed.

While Botstein has not been accused of any direct involvement in Epstein’s exploitation and abuse, the trove of Justice Department documents released earlier this year exposed numerous meetings between the two. Epstein reportedly arrived at Bard by helicopter on multiple occasions, and Botstein invited him as a guest to the 2013 commencement and suggested meeting for an opera performance.

Emails also show Botstein reaching out to Epstein weeks after a 2018 Miami Herald report exposed new details about Epstein’s criminal prosecution, expressing concern for Epstein’s well-being and referring to their “friendship.” Epstein funneled $150,000 to Botstein in 2016, which Botstein claims he donated to the college. Previously, Botstein downplayed any personal connection, framing their interactions solely as fundraising efforts.

Bard’s trustees hired the law firm WilmerHale to conduct an independent review of Botstein’s communications with Epstein. The review concluded that Botstein did not break any laws but made decisions that “reflect on his leadership of Bard.” It found that Botstein minimized and was not fully honest about the extent of his relationship with Epstein in public statements and to the Bard community.

The report revealed Botstein dismissed concerns from a senior faculty member who opposed engagement with Epstein, rationalizing that Epstein could be “presumed to be rehabilitated” like any other convicted offender. Botstein’s stark justification was that Bard’s financial needs outweighed ethical considerations, famously stating, “I would take money from Satan if it permitted me to do God’s work.”

In response, Bard’s Board of Trustees acknowledged Botstein’s decades of service but emphasized the seriousness of the recent concerns. They announced that funds linked to Epstein would be redirected to organizations supporting survivors of sexual harm.

Bard’s media office defended Botstein as “a transformative leader” who shaped the college into a “world-class educational institution.” Yet this defense rings hollow amid revelations that Botstein chose fundraising over moral accountability, maintaining a close relationship with one of the most notorious sex offenders of our time.

This episode is yet another glaring example of how Epstein’s network of enablers allowed his crimes to persist unchecked. Institutions and leaders who accepted Epstein’s money or friendship must face scrutiny and consequences. Botstein’s retirement is a step, but the broader reckoning with Epstein’s legacy and those who protected him is far from over.