Bard College President Leon Botstein to Retire After Epstein Ties Exposed

Leon Botstein, the president of Bard College for over 50 years, announced his retirement after an internal investigation revealed he had minimized and was not fully truthful about his ties to disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein. The school’s Board of Trustees released a summary of the report on Friday, confirming that while Botstein’s actions were not illegal, they raised serious questions about his leadership and judgment.

The investigation, conducted by law firm WilmerHale, found that Botstein had visited Epstein’s New York townhouse at least 25 times and took a two-day trip to Epstein’s private island—details he had previously denied or failed to recall. Despite knowing Epstein was a convicted sex offender, Botstein admitted he never questioned the presence or safety of women Epstein brought to events on Bard’s campus.

The report also revealed internal dissent, with at least one senior faculty member opposing Botstein’s efforts to secure funding from Epstein. Botstein defended his decisions by asserting that Bard’s dire financial needs justified accepting money from any source, famously stating he would “take money from Satan if it permitted me to do God’s work.”

Bard College’s Board expressed gratitude for Botstein’s five decades of service but emphasized the need to strengthen policies on donor vetting, fundraising, and conflicts of interest moving forward.

Botstein, who plans to continue teaching and living on campus after stepping down on June 30, framed his tenure as a story of institutional survival and innovation. However, the Epstein revelations cast a long shadow over his legacy, illustrating how financial desperation can lead to compromising ethical standards and enabling powerful abusers.

This episode adds to the growing list of prominent figures who have faced consequences for their associations with Epstein, underscoring the urgent need for transparency and accountability in institutions that once turned a blind eye to his crimes.