Harvard and Bard face fresh questions from lawmakers over ties to Epstein
Democrat Jamie Raskin seeks ‘comprehensive accounting’ and requests interview with outgoing Bard president
TL;DR
- Rep. Jamie Raskin is investigating Harvard and Bard College's ties to Jeffrey Epstein.
- Allegations suggest Epstein leveraged university connections to traffic women and enhance his reputation.
- Raskin is demanding interviews with Bard's outgoing president, Leon Botstein, and extensive records from both institutions.
- Previous investigations by Harvard and Bard into their Epstein connections are criticized as insufficient.
- Epstein donated over $9 million to Harvard between 1998 and 2008.
- Harvard's former president, Larry Summers, had frequent communication with Epstein.
- A Bard-initiated review found Botstein's tenure had 'substantial lapses in leadership and candor' related to Epstein.
- An independent review found Botstein's actions concerning Epstein were not illegal, but he was not fully accurate in describing their relationship and did not fully see reputational risks.
- Bard's board ended Botstein's tenure after an independent review of his Epstein relationship.
- Raskin has set a deadline of July 1 for information from both universities.