Bard College President Leon Botstein to Retire Amid Epstein Ties Scandal

Leon Botstein, the longtime president of Bard College, is stepping down at the end of June after over five decades of leadership. His retirement comes hot on the heels of a critical report by WilmerHale, commissioned by Bard’s Board of Trustees, which scrutinized Botstein’s dealings with Jeffrey Epstein, the notorious sex offender.

The law firm’s investigation, summarized by attorney Jamie Gorelick, found no illegal actions by Botstein but laid bare a series of poor decisions that reflect badly on his stewardship of the college. Despite Epstein’s 2008 conviction for soliciting a minor for prostitution, Botstein aggressively courted him as a donor starting in 2012, prioritizing fundraising over ethical considerations. Gorelick quotes Botstein’s own chilling rationale: “I would take money from Satan if it permitted me to do God’s work.”

Botstein failed to grasp or acknowledge the reputational risks to Bard and the dangers posed to students by associating with Epstein. He also minimized and misrepresented the nature of his relationship with Epstein in public statements. Disturbingly, he did not disclose Epstein’s involvement in donations made through entities like Enhanced Education or the role Epstein played in securing contributions from billionaire Leon Black.

Further, Botstein accepted consulting fees from an Epstein-linked entity in 2016 without informing the Board, claiming he intended to donate those funds back to Bard—a claim the report says cannot be confirmed.

Student activists from the group “Take Back Bard” have condemned Botstein’s continued presence at the college, demanding he cease teaching and conducting immediately. They call for a thorough reckoning with the institution’s culture of sexual abuse and for shared governance reforms to prevent future negligence.

Botstein’s retirement announcement conspicuously avoided mention of the WilmerHale report or Epstein, instead highlighting his fundraising successes. The Bard Board expressed gratitude for his decades of service but acknowledged his resignation came only after the report was delivered.

This episode starkly illustrates how institutions can enable powerful predators through willful blindness and misplaced priorities. Bard College’s failure to confront Epstein’s toxic influence sooner is a cautionary tale about the corrosive impact of corruption and complicity at the highest levels. We will continue to follow how Bard addresses the fallout and whether true accountability takes root.