A powerful Democratic lawmaker has called for a criminal investigation into former Bard College president Leon Botstein after congressional investigators uncovered an email from Botstein to accused sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein in which he says Botstein asked if a young woman was “for me, or are you keeping her for yourself”. The latest development appears to have triggered the immediate resignation of Botstein from all Bard-affiliated positions, including his professorship and roles in Bard’s music programs. Botstein had led the college for 50 years and only recently stepped down as president.
Brandon Weber, chairman of Bard College’s board of trustees, said in a statement on Wednesday evening that the college had received additional communications from Congressman Jamie Raskin, who is the top Democrat on the House judiciary committee and is leading a congressional investigation into Botstein’s relationship with Epstein. Weber said Bard was undertaking “a full review” of the allegations that have been made in Raskin’s letter, and was cooperating with the committee’s investigation. Weber also said members of the executive committee of Bard’s board of trustees voted unanimously to accept Botstein’s resignation.
Botstein said in a statement that “any assertion that I knew of or was involved in Epstein’s criminal behavior is wrong”. Botstein has faced intense scrutiny since the release earlier this year of the Epstein files, which revealed a friendly relationship between the then longtime college president and Epstein, who died in prison in 2019 while facing sex-trafficking charges. The revelations, including that Botstein had once been on Epstein’s island for a visit, contributed to his decision to step down as president.
The latest controversy centers on an email that the Democratic committee members – who have access to unredacted emails in the Epstein files – said was sent by Botstein to Epstein in connection to a young foreign model and aspiring vocalist who they say was being “groomed” by Epstein throughout 2014. According to a letter sent by Democrats Jamie Raskin and Madeleine Dean to attorney general Todd Blanche and FBI director Kash Patel, records in the Epstein files indicate that Epstein was offering the young woman – referred to as Jane Doe – advice and help with her plans to attend school and develop her career in the US. But instead of helping her pursue her career, the lawmakers said in their letter, Epstein pressured her to take sex education and massage courses, and “employed” her while he was sexually abusing her.
Jane Doe, they said, was sent to Europe, Canada, and multiple destinations in the US. The Democrats’ letter further alleges that the files indicate that Epstein “used his relationship with Leon Botstein to convince Jane Doe that she could have a successful musical career after modeling”. In May 2014, Epstein sent Jane Doe to meet Botstein, ostensibly for him to assess her musical talents.
The Democratic lawmakers say they have reviewed one “startling” email – which had been redacted by the Department of Justice – that they said was sent from Botstein’s then Bard account, [email protected]. It reads: “Is [Jane Doe] for me, or are you keeping her for yourself.” The lawmakers wrote: “The evidence meets the federal standard for opening a criminal investigation, yet [the] DoJ and FBI apparently had it for at least 18 months without investigating Botstein. We are demanding they investigate Botstein and other potential co-conspirators.” In a statement, Botstein denied the Democrats’ allegations, including that he had sent the email in question.
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