Leon Botstein retires as Bard College president after Epstein document revelations
Updated
Updated · The New York Times · May 1
Leon Botstein retires as Bard College president after Epstein document revelations
8 articles · Updated · The New York Times · May 1
Botstein, 79, said he would step down after leading the New York liberal-arts college since 1975, following Justice Department records released in late January.
The documents showed years of messages and visits with Jeffrey Epstein, including after his conviction, and references to a watch purchase and a planned trip to Epstein's island.
Botstein had said the relationship centred on fundraising for Bard; the records allege no criminal wrongdoing. He is the latest senior figure to leave a post after Epstein-related disclosures.
After 50 years building a college, how did a 'cherished friendship' with Jeffrey Epstein lead to its president's spectacular downfall?
Botstein’s fall exposes a crisis in academia. Are university ethics now for sale to the highest bidder?