Trending Now - Bard College Leader Steps Down Amid Epstein Connection Controversy
WHO:
ABC News - Leon Botstein, president of Bard College
ABC News - Jeffrey Epstein, convicted sex offender
ABC News - Bard College, a liberal arts college in New York
ABC News - Bard's Board of Trustees
WHAT:
ABC News - Botstein made about 25 visits to Epstein’s townhouse and had a two-day visit to Epstein’s Little St James Island.
CBS News - Botstein accepted fees under a consulting agreement with an Epstein entity in 2016, which he did not disclose to the board.
CBS News - The WilmerHale review indicated that Botstein's financial interactions with Epstein could not be confirmed as contributions to Bard.
The Guardian - The WilmerHale review suggested that Botstein's frequent interactions with Epstein “could have alerted” him to the possibility of facilitating Epstein’s abuse of women.
ABC News - Leon Botstein announced his retirement as president of Bard College.
ABC News - Botstein will retire at the end of June.
ABC News - An independent review found that Botstein did not do anything illegal but made decisions that reflect on his leadership.
ABC News - Funds associated with Epstein will be directed to organizations supporting survivors of sexual harm.
WHERE:
ABC News - Bard College is located in Annandale-on-Hudson, New York.
WHEN:
ABC News - Botstein's retirement will take effect at the end of June.
WHY:
The Guardian - Botstein relied on the view that “an ordinary sex offender” like Epstein could be presumed to be rehabilitated.
ABC News - Botstein's retirement follows scrutiny of his relationship with Jeffrey Epstein.
ABC News - The review indicated that Botstein minimized and was not fully accurate in describing his relationship with Epstein.
HOW:
CBS News - The WilmerHale review noted that Botstein extended multiple invitations to Epstein, including a stay at Bard’s guest cottage and attending a concert by conservatory students, which were not accepted.
ABC News - Bard's trustees enlisted the law firm WilmerHale to conduct an independent review of communications between Botstein and Epstein.
ABC News - Botstein had multiple meetings with Epstein, including inviting him to Bard's 2013 graduation ceremonies and suggesting they meet for an opera performance.
(UPDATED May 2, 2026 17:13 UTC)
A recent review by WilmerHale has revealed that Bard College President Leon Botstein made approximately 25 visits to Jeffrey Epstein's townhouse and even spent two days on Epstein's Little St James Island. The report also indicated that Botstein had a consulting agreement with an Epstein entity in 2016, which he failed to disclose to the board, and his financial interactions with Epstein could not be confirmed as contributions to Bard. Additionally, the review suggested that Botstein's numerous invitations to Epstein, including offers for a stay at Bard’s guest cottage and attending a concert, were not accepted, raising questions about his judgment regarding Epstein's past.
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(UPDATED May 2, 2026 05:47 UTC)
Leon Botstein, the president of Bard College in New York, has announced his retirement, effective at the end of June, following scrutiny over his relationship with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. An independent review found that while Botstein did not engage in illegal activities, he was not fully accurate in describing his interactions with Epstein, which included multiple meetings and an invitation to Bard's 2013 graduation. Additionally, funds associated with Epstein will be redirected to organizations that support survivors of sexual harm.