Точка Синхронізації

Leon Botstein, the long-standing president of Bard College, sent a series of recently uncovered emails to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein between 2011 and 2012 expressing gratitude for a trip to the Caribbean and seeking further institutional support. These communications, which have surfaced as part of an ongoing investigation into Epstein’s social and financial networks, reveal that Botstein maintained a cordial relationship with the financier even after public allegations of Epstein's sexual abuse of minors had become widespread. The correspondence highlights the deep ties Epstein cultivated within the American academic elite despite his criminal history. The released documents show that Botstein did not merely interact with Epstein for fundraising purposes but also extended personal invitations for the financier to visit a high school affiliated with Bard College. In one specific exchange, Botstein thanked Epstein for a visit to his private island in the Caribbean, describing the hospitality as remarkable. The interactions suggest a level of comfort and persistence in the relationship that persisted despite the 2008 conviction of Epstein in Florida for soliciting a minor for prostitution. Beyond the Caribbean trip, the emails indicate that Botstein expressed solidarity with Epstein during periods of renewed media scrutiny. The college president reportedly sent well wishes to Epstein following the publication of investigative reports detailing the systematic sexual abuse of young women. While Botstein has previously defended his meetings with Epstein as necessary efforts to secure funding for Bard College’s educational programs, these specific emails add a layer of personal warmth and professional collaboration that critics suggest crosses the line of standard philanthropic engagement. This revelation adds Bard College to the list of prestigious institutions, including Harvard and MIT, that have faced intense scrutiny over their leaders' ties to Epstein. The controversy centers on the ethical dilemma faced by higher education administrators who pursued wealthy donors regardless of their moral or legal standing. For Bard College, these emails represent a significant reputational challenge, raising questions about the vetting processes used for high-net-worth individuals and the influence that such donors may have held over educational leadership.