Bard President Thanked Epstein for Caribbean Trip

Emails show deeper ties between college leader and convicted sex offender than previously acknowledged

Published on Feb. 9, 2026

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New emails have surfaced showing that Leon Botstein, the president of Bard College, had a closer relationship with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein than he has previously acknowledged. The emails reveal that Botstein thanked Epstein for a trip to the Caribbean, invited Epstein to visit a high school linked to Bard, and struck a warm tone with Epstein even after his sex abuse allegations became public.

Why it matters

The revelations about Botstein's relationship with Epstein raise questions about the college president's judgment and the extent to which he provided Epstein access to Bard's orbit, despite Epstein's criminal history. It also highlights the broader issue of how powerful figures in academia and other institutions maintained ties with Epstein even after his conviction for sex crimes.

The details

The new emails show that a day after a 2012 trip to the Caribbean, Botstein emailed Epstein saying, "I had a great time. The place is great." Botstein has previously said he doesn't remember key details about the trip. The emails also show Botstein striking a warm tone with Epstein, including referencing the novelist Vladimir Nabokov, whose novel "Lolita" Epstein kept a first edition of. In 2018, Botstein even sent Epstein a sympathetic note after news broke about Epstein's sex abuse allegations. Botstein has said his only contact with Epstein was about fundraising, but the emails suggest deeper personal ties.

  • In December 2012, Botstein visited Epstein's Caribbean island.
  • On December 23, 2012, Botstein emailed Epstein saying he "had a great time" on the trip.
  • In March 2013, Botstein wrote Epstein a lengthy note about his own work, saying he "greatly cherish[ed] this new friendship."
  • In December 2018, weeks after news broke about Epstein's sex abuse allegations, Botstein sent Epstein a sympathetic note.
  • In late February 2013, Botstein emailed Epstein about a potential visit to a Bard-linked high school.

The players

Leon Botstein

The president of Bard College since 1975, known as an aggressive fundraiser who has said he must sometimes deal with "unsavory characters" to support the college.

Jeffrey Epstein

A convicted sex offender who was a supporter of Bard College and had a relationship with Botstein that went beyond just fundraising, according to the new emails.

Vladimir Nabokov

The novelist who wrote the novel "Lolita", which Epstein kept a first edition of in his home. Botstein referenced Nabokov in emails to Epstein.

James Cox Chambers

The billionaire chair of Bard's board of trustees, who has not publicly addressed the relationship between Botstein and Epstein.

David Wade

A spokesman for Botstein who has provided statements defending the college president's interactions with Epstein.

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What they’re saying

“I had a great time. The place is great.”

— Leon Botstein, President, Bard College (New York Times)

“I greatly cherish this new friendship and I have real admiration for how you go about doing things.”

— Leon Botstein, President, Bard College (New York Times)

“Given the support you have shown and the help given (despite vociferous objections), I want you to know that I hope you are holding up as well as can be expected.”

— Leon Botstein, President, Bard College (New York Times)

“The nature of my contact with Epstein never permitted the recognition of how monstrous, cruel, and dangerous he turned out to be.”

— Leon Botstein, President, Bard College (New York Times)

“There is no way to reaffirm more unequivocally that the only reason I ever communicated with Jeffrey Epstein was in the work of fund-raising for Bard and its programs, particularly in the arts. He wasn't a friend.”

— Leon Botstein, President, Bard College (New York Times)

What’s next

The Bard College board of trustees is expected to address the revelations about Botstein's relationship with Epstein at its next meeting.

The takeaway

The emails showing Botstein's warm personal relationship with the convicted sex offender Epstein, despite Botstein's claims that their contact was solely about fundraising, raise serious questions about the college president's judgment and the extent to which he provided Epstein access to Bard's orbit.