Leon Botstein Resigns From Bard College Roles Following House Probe

On Wednesday, Leon Botstein abruptly resigned from all roles at Bard College following a House Judiciary Committee letter alleging he enabled Jeffrey Epstein’s abuse. The former president stepped down from campus positions and music programs after congressional investigators uncovered a 2014 email asking if an Epstein-groomed woman was for him.

Leon Botstein Leaves Bard College After Congressional Letter

• Leon Botstein left all remaining teaching and music roles at Bard College on Wednesday following a congressional letter from the House Judiciary Committee.
• Investigators highlighted a May 2014 email sent from Botstein’s institutional account asking convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein if a young woman was “for me, or are you keeping her for yourself.”
• Bard Board Chair Brandon Weber confirmed the college is reviewing the allegations and cooperating fully with federal inquiries, while Botstein maintained that any assertion of involvement in criminal behavior is wrong.

Congressional Investigators Demand Department of Justice Action on Botstein Email

The sudden departure of the long-serving academic follows a heavy push from federal lawmakers. Rolling Stone reported that the House Judiciary Committee sent an official letter to Bard College Board Chair Brandon Weber and Acting President Jonathan Becker. Representative Jamie Raskin, the top Democrat on the committee leading the probe alongside Representative Madeleine Dean, alleged in the correspondence that Botstein likely enabled and possibly participated in Epstein’s abuse.

The Guardian added further details regarding the origins of the scrutiny, noting that unredacted files released earlier this year revealed a friendly relationship between Botstein and Epstein. That initial disclosure contributed to Botstein’s decision to step down from his primary office after leading the liberal arts institution from 1975 to 2026. However, he had remained on campus to teach and reside in the official presidential home while renovations for an off-campus house were finalized.

The focal point of the escalation is an email from May 2014. According to congressional findings, an account bearing [email protected] sent a message asking Epstein whether a young foreign model and aspiring vocalist—referred to as Jane Doe—was for me, or are you keeping her for yourself. Lawmakers asserted that Epstein was actively trafficking the young woman across state and international lines at the time, utilizing his relationship with Botstein to convince her of a future musical career in the United States.

Board Review and Institutional Fallout at Bard College

In response to the congressional correspondence, the leadership at Bard College initiated immediate procedural steps. Weber stated to Rolling Stone that the school is conducting a full review of the allegations and cooperating with the committee. The executive committee of Bard’s board of trustees subsequently voted unanimously to accept Botstein’s resignation from his professorship and music program roles.

Beyond the specific 2014 communication, the House Judiciary Committee letter outlines broader campus allegations. Investigators claimed that misconduct involving Botstein festered across several decades, noting multiple reports of personal sexual misconduct, abuse of power, and the protection of other offenders. Lawmakers additionally alleged that Botstein oversaw Title IX cases in a highly irregular fashion.

In statements reported by both major outlets, Weber countered aspects of the administrative claims. He emphasized that Bard maintains a fair, impartial, and accessible Title IX process, noting that the college president has not held unilateral decision-making authority over Title IX investigations or adjudications since the 2015-2016 academic year.

Botstein Denies Involvement in Epstein Criminal Behavior

Defending his legacy against the mounting pressure, Botstein issued a public statement addressing the latest developments. As covered by The Guardian, he stated that any assertion that I knew of or was involved in Epstein’s criminal behavior is wrong.

Botstein explained his decision to sever all remaining ties with the institution, noting that he chose to step away to protect the school from distraction. He stated that he did not want to see even false allegations about me put the institution I have served for more than half a century put at any risk.

The political and legal fallout extends well beyond the campus boundaries. Representatives Raskin and Dean also directed formal correspondence to Attorney General Todd Blanche and FBI Director Kash Patel. The lawmakers urged federal authorities to initiate a serious criminal investigation into Botstein and other potential co-conspirators, arguing that the Department of Justice and the FBI had possession of the evidentiary files for at least 18 months prior to the recent congressional disclosures.

Official Action / Entity	Key Individual / Representative	Core Action Taken
House Judiciary Committee	Rep. Jamie Raskin & Rep. Madeleine Dean	Sent investigative letters to Bard leadership, DOJ, and FBI detailing the 2014 email.
Bard College Board of Trustees	Brandon Weber (Board Chair)	Voted unanimously to accept Botstein’s resignation and initiated a full institutional review.
Federal Law Enforcement	AG Todd Blanche & FBI Director Kash Patel	Urged by congressional investigators to undertake a serious criminal inquiry into Epstein files.

Further developments in the federal review are expected as the Department of Justice and the FBI evaluate the congressional demands for formal proceedings.