Bard College’s President, Leon Botstein, Will Retire After Epstein Revelations

Bard College president Leon Botstein is retiring after revelations tied to Jeffrey Epstein, with multiple outlets reporting scrutiny over his ties and communications with Epstein. CNBC notes the retirement followed DOJ-disclosed documents about Botstein’s communications; The New York Times describes scrutiny over his connections after 50 years at Bard; The Guardian US reports an independent review found Botstein’s frequent interactions could have alerted him to Bard enabling Epstein’s abuse and that he announced stepping down effective June 30. Disagreements center on framing and specifics of visits, but consensus is that Botstein is leaving amid Epstein-related questions, with Bard commissioning a review by WilmerHale.