Leon Botstein is stepping down as president of Bard College after an independent investigation revealed he maintained far closer ties to convicted sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein than he had previously acknowledged. The WilmerHale law firm's review, commissioned by Bard's board of trustees, found that Botstein made approximately 25 visits to Epstein's Manhattan townhouse, spent two days on Epstein's private island in the U.S. Virgin Islands, and hosted Epstein twice at the college itself.
Botstein, who had publicly denied being friends with Epstein, will leave the presidency effective June 30. The board of trustees accepted his retirement on Friday after receiving WilmerHale's findings on April 30.
The investigation uncovered that during their contact from 2012 to 2019, Botstein's visits to Epstein's properties included multiple women who have since been identified as victims of the sex offender. WilmerHale found that Botstein's frequent interactions with Epstein "could have alerted" him to the possibility that his actions were facilitating Epstein's abuse.
A senior faculty member had warned Botstein against pursuing a relationship with Epstein, particularly one centered on soliciting donations. Rather than heed that caution, Botstein adopted a different approach. According to WilmerHale's report, Botstein believed that someone like Epstein, having served prison time, could be presumed rehabilitated. The president made clear his priorities in blunt terms: "I would take money from Satan if it permitted me to do God's work," Botstein told investigators, as quoted in the WilmerHale summary.
The financial entanglement between Botstein and Epstein added another layer of concern. In 2016, Botstein accepted consulting fees from an Epstein-controlled entity but did not disclose the arrangement to the board, claiming he intended to donate the money to Bard. WilmerHale found that Botstein later said he rolled those funds into his and his wife's personal contributions to the college without separately identifying their source. As a result, "the documents cannot confirm for the board the contribution of those fees to Bard," the law firm concluded.
WilmerHale was particularly critical of Botstein's judgment regarding campus safety and the college's reputation. The report noted that Botstein "did not see a risk to Bard's reputation in pursuing Epstein or the potential risk to Bard students of exposure to Epstein." Botstein had extended multiple invitations to Epstein that were declined, including a stay at a college guest cottage and attendance at conservatory performances. WilmerHale stated that Botstein's actions "could validate and legitimize Epstein to potential victims or their parents."
The law firm also found that "in his public statements and his statements to the Bard community, President Botstein minimized and was not fully accurate in describing his relationship with Epstein."
The board said any funds connected to Epstein will be redirected to organizations supporting survivors of sexual abuse. Bard trustees expressed gratitude for those who came forward during the review process and acknowledged "the seriousness and deeply felt" nature of the concerns raised.
Botstein has not been charged with any wrongdoing in relation to Epstein. In his own statement, he did not directly address the WilmerHale findings. Instead, he noted that he had already informed the board of his intention to retire, citing his 51 years of service and his approaching eightieth birthday. He said he plans to remain as a faculty member and teacher at the college and will continue to live on campus.
Author James Rodriguez: "Botstein's claimed ignorance of Epstein's crimes despite visiting his townhouse two dozen times strains credulity, and his casual willingness to compromise institutional values for donations reveals a moral calculus that should disqualify anyone from educational leadership."
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