Bard College President Leon Botstein to Retire Amid Epstein Ties Scrutiny

Leon Botstein, the longtime president of Bard College in New York, announced his retirement effective at the end of June, months after documents exposed a deeper relationship between him and Jeffrey Epstein than he had publicly acknowledged. Botstein, 79, who has led the small liberal arts institution for 50 years, will remain on Bard’s faculty but is stepping away from his leadership role amid mounting scrutiny.

The controversy centers on a trove of U.S. Justice Department documents released this year showing multiple meetings between Botstein and Epstein, including Epstein arriving by helicopter to Bard’s campus. Botstein invited Epstein to the college’s 2013 graduation and suggested meeting him for an opera performance. He also maintained correspondence that referred to Epstein as a friend and expressed concern for his well-being after new details of Epstein’s criminal prosecution emerged in 2018.

Epstein donated $150,000 to Bard in 2016, funds Botstein says he passed on to the college. Until now, Botstein had denied a personal connection, framing his contact with Epstein solely around fundraising efforts. But an independent review by law firm WilmerHale, commissioned by Bard’s trustees, concluded Botstein did not break any laws but “made decisions in the course of that relationship that reflect on his leadership of Bard.” The review criticized Botstein for minimizing and inaccurately describing his relationship with Epstein in public statements.

The report revealed Botstein dismissed concerns from faculty members about engaging with Epstein, rationalizing that a convicted sex offender should be presumed rehabilitated like any other criminal. He reportedly said, “I would take money from Satan if it permitted me to do God’s work,” emphasizing Bard’s financial needs over ethical considerations.

Bard’s Board of Trustees expressed gratitude for Botstein’s decades of service but acknowledged the seriousness of the concerns raised. The college plans to direct any remaining Epstein-associated funds to organizations supporting survivors of sexual harm.

Botstein’s retirement amid this scandal underscores a broader pattern of powerful institutions and individuals maintaining relationships with Epstein despite his known abuses. It raises urgent questions about accountability and the moral compromises made in the name of fundraising and prestige.