ANNANDALE-ON-HUDSON— The Board of Trustees at Bard College said Thursday it has retained an outside law firm to conduct an independent review of communications between its president and the late financier Jeffrey Epstein following the release of emails and related reporting.
In a message sent to the campus community, the board acknowledged “fair and important questions” raised about communications between Bard College President Leon Botstein and Epstein. The board said it recognizes “how difficult this moment is for our community and the pain and concern that it has caused.”
earlier this week that alumni, students, parents and staff are seeking the president to step down.
Trustees retained the law firm WilmerHale to conduct what they described as an independent review of the full scope of the communications, any financial contributions connected to Epstein and “any related matters relevant to understanding these issues fully.”
WilnerHale is a leading international law firm working at the intersection of government and business to support clients across a range of industries, from finance to life sciences to technology, according to the firm’s website. A large public relations firm with 700 employees contacted the media on behalf of WilnerHale.
The firm will also make recommendations regarding the college’s policies and practices on donor vetting, fundraising, codes of conduct and conflicts of interest, according to the statement. Botstein has issued communications to the campus community that some feel fail to take full accountability for the years-long relationship with the convicted sex offender. The president who has held the role at the college for 50 years has stated he will not resign.
Epstein, a wealthy financier with ties to prominent figures in politics, academia and business, died in 2019 while awaiting trial on federal sex trafficking charges.
The board said it is committed to sharing the results of the review once it is complete and to communicating how the college will move forward. “Bard College is grounded in mutual respect and thoughtful engagement with the issues affecting our community and, in moments like this, those values matter more than ever,” the trustees wrote, thanking students, faculty and staff for their patience.
The college did not provide a timeline for completion of the review.
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