Leon Botstein resigns as Bard College president
Times Union • • general
Key Points:
- Leon Botstein announced he will retire as Bard College president at the end of the 2025-2026 academic year following an internal legal review of his ties to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
- A law firm investigation found Botstein had extensive contact with Epstein, including visits to Epstein’s properties and involvement with women later identified as Epstein’s victims, and that Botstein was not fully truthful about the nature of their relationship.
- The review criticized Botstein for failing to investigate Epstein’s background despite warnings, potentially enabling Epstein’s abuse and exposing Bard students to risk.
- Botstein denies knowledge of Epstein’s crimes and states his relationship was primarily for fundraising purposes; he will remain on Bard’s faculty and continue overseeing music programs after stepping down as president.
- Bard’s Board of Trustees plans to appoint an interim president and conduct a national search for a permanent replacement, while redirecting Epstein-associated funds to organizations supporting survivors of sexual harm.
