Yale Professor Removed From Teaching Duties After Epstein Email Scrutiny

David Gelernter told students he has been "relieved" of teaching responsibilities due to his correspondence with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

Published on Feb. 10, 2026

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Yale computer science professor David Gelernter has been removed from teaching his class after scrutiny over emails he exchanged with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. In one email, Gelernter recommended a female student to Epstein, describing her as "completely connected, v small goodl=oking (sic) blonde." Gelernter defended his language, saying the student was a family friend, but acknowledged neither he nor the student knew Epstein was a felon at the time. Gelernter told students he has been "relieved" of his teaching duties, though it's unclear if this is a permanent change to his standing at Yale.

Why it matters

The revelations about Gelernter's emails with Epstein have raised concerns about the professor's judgment and conduct, as well as questions about Yale's oversight and response. The incident highlights the ongoing fallout from Epstein's wide-ranging connections with academics and other influential figures.

The details

In his email to students, Gelernter said he had been removed from teaching his CPSC 4500 class, though he did not know who would be taking over the course for the rest of the semester. Gelernter defended his recommendation of the female student, saying she was a family friend who had stayed at his home, and that neither he nor the student knew Epstein was a convicted sex offender at the time. However, Gelernter acknowledged that the "university's Smoking Gun is a personal, private email, dug out of the dump of Epstein files."

  • On Tuesday, Gelernter told students he had been "relieved" of his teaching duties.
  • Gelernter's emails with Epstein dated back to between 2009 and 2015.

The players

David Gelernter

A Yale computer science professor who had corresponded with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

Jeffrey Epstein

A convicted sex offender who had wide-ranging connections with academics and other influential figures.

Jeffrey Brock

The dean of Yale's School of Engineering & Applied Science, to whom Gelernter reportedly wrote a letter defending his recommendation of the undergraduate student.

Holly Rushmeier

The chair of the computer science department at Yale, who took over teaching Gelernter's class for the rest of the semester.

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What they’re saying

“For now on I no longer teach CPSC 4500. I have no idea who my successor will be.”

— David Gelernter, Yale Professor (CT Insider)

“If Yale had treated her like the adult she was an not like a Ward in Chancellery (belonging to the Engineering Dean?) none of this would have happened.”

— David Gelernter, Yale Professor (CT Insider)

“From my standpoint, he was one of the two (maybe three) smartest men I'd ever met.”

— David Gelernter (CT Insider)

What’s next

It is unclear if Gelernter's removal from teaching duties is a permanent change to his standing at Yale. The university has not commented on whether Gelernter is under investigation or facing any further disciplinary action.

The takeaway

This incident highlights the ongoing fallout from Jeffrey Epstein's wide-ranging connections with academics and other influential figures, and raises questions about Yale's oversight and response to such situations involving its faculty members.