Bard College's board of trustees voted to end Leon Botstein's five-decade run as president after reviewing findings of his ties to Jeffrey Epstein, according to emails obtained by the Guardian. Botstein announced his departure on May 1 as a voluntary retirement, but internal correspondence reveals the board had just voted on his contract that same day after receiving results of an independent legal inquiry.
The move has fractured the liberal arts institution's leadership. Within days, the board's chair of ten years, billionaire James Chambers, resigned along with two other trustees. A newly appointed board member, Lucas Pipes, called the vote itself "compromised" and objected to the process, saying counsel remained in the room during deliberations in what he characterized as a procedural violation.
The WilmerHale law firm, hired by the board in February to examine Botstein's relationship with Epstein, found no illegal conduct by the college president. However, the review concluded that Botstein was "not fully accurate" in public statements about his connection to the convicted sex offender and failed to recognize risks to Bard's reputation. Critically, the review revealed Botstein accepted consulting fees from an Epstein-connected entity without disclosing them to the board.
Those findings centered on a documented history. Epstein donated $50,000 to Bard high schools in 2011 and $75,000 in 2012. More significantly, emails released by the Department of Justice earlier this year showed extensive correspondence between Botstein and Epstein, including a 2012 visit by the college president to Epstein's island. Botstein had previously denied being friends with Epstein and said he witnessed nothing inappropriate.
The board's decision has provoked sharp disagreement among trustees. Asher Edelman, an existing board member, emailed colleagues on May 1 that the vote meant "the end of our college as we know it today" and faulted the process as lacking adequate financial planning. Pipes went further, criticizing the fact that a major institutional decision was made without a succession plan in place.
The departing board members have not explained their exits, and whether they were linked to fallout over Botstein remains unclear. A Bard spokesperson attributed the resignations to normal turnover, noting trustees serve as volunteers.
Beyond the board, a Bard alumnus has escalated the dispute by filing a 17-page complaint with the New York attorney general's charities office, alleging the board prioritized Botstein's reputation and legacy over the interests of students and staff. The alumnus pointed to contradictions in the board's messaging, particularly a May 11 statement asserting trustees "never doubted" Botstein's motives to serve the institution, which directly contradicts the WilmerHale findings about concealed relationships and undisclosed fees.
The New York attorney general's office confirmed receipt of the letter and said it is under review. Bard's new leadership has emphasized the college's financial strength and stable outlook, positioning the transition as an opportunity to move forward.
Faculty sentiment appears divided. Religion professor Bruce Chilton warned that sudden board changes driven by "factional squabbles" could distract from the college's mission, while noting legitimate concerns that decisions made about Botstein's departure could potentially be reversed by a reconstituted board.
Author James Rodriguez: "Botstein's carefully framed retirement announcement doesn't match the internal record, and the board's subsequent fracturing suggests this was anything but a smooth transition at the top."
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