Leon Botstein Resigns After Review Exposes Years of Contact and Fundraising Links to Epstein (5/4/26)

The Epstein Chronicles · May 4, 2026 · 12m

Leon Botstein announced he would step down as president of Bard College after more than 50 years in the role, with his resignation taking effect June 30, 2026. His departure followed an internal legal review examining his relationship with Jeffrey Epstein. The review found that Botstein had significantly more contact with Epstein than he had previously disclosed, including meetings, correspondence, and fundraising-related interactions tied to Epstein’s financial contributions and connections.Although the review did not find criminal wrongdoing, it raised serious concerns about Botstein’s…