Bard College president Leon Botstein isstepping downafter an independent investigation found he made around 25 visits toJeffrey Epstein's New York townhouse, according to a report by law firm WilmerHale released in April 2026.
According toThe Guardian,Botstein's move to step down suggests those interactions could have exposed the college to serious reputational and ethical risks.
The news follows months of investigation after Bard's board of trustees commissioned WilmerHale to examine Botstein's past relationship with Epstein. Botstein, who has not been charged with any wrongdoing, had previously said he was not friends with Epstein.
According to the WilmerHale review, Botstein's contact with Epstein spanned roughly from 2012 to 2019. During that period, the report found he visited Epstein's Manhattan townhouse about 25 times and also made a two-day trip to Epstein's private island in the US Virgin Islands.
The report further notes that Epstein visited Bard College on two occasions. Investigators said some of these meetings included 'multiple women' later identified as Epstein's victims. The law firm stated that Botstein's interactions with Epstein 'could have alerted' him to the risk that his engagement with the financier might be seen as legitimising him, despite his criminal history.
The report also claims a senior faculty member had warned Botstein against continuing contact with Epstein. Botstein, however, reportedly maintained that Epstein's past conviction meant he could be viewed as rehabilitated, and argued that Bard's financial needs were a priority.
One line quoted in the report captures Botstein's thinking in very direct terms. He is said to have remarked that he would 'take money from Satan if it permitted me to do God's work.'
Investigators say this comment reflects how he approached his dealings with Epstein, suggesting he was willing to overlook serious concerns in order to secure funding for Bard College and support its wider goals.
The WilmerHale findings also raised questions about financial dealings between Botstein and Epstein-linked entities. The report says Botstein received consulting fees in 2016 under an agreement with an Epstein organisation, which he did not disclose to Bard's board at the time. He reportedly said he intended the money to be donated back to the college, but investigators noted they could not fully verify how those funds were ultimately accounted for.
The board said in its statement that any funds connected to Epstein would now be redirected towards organisations supporting survivors of sexual harm. It also confirmed Botstein's retirement would take effect at the end of June 2026, with an orderly transition planned.
Source: International Business Times UK
