Leon Botstein resigns all Bard positions; Raskin seeks criminal investigation
Leon Botstein, who recently stepped down after 50 years as Bard College president, has resigned all remaining Bard roles as Rep. Jamie Raskin calls for a criminal investigation over an email to Jeffrey Epstein.
Leon Botstein has resigned from all of his Bard-affiliated positions, including his professorship and his roles in Bard's music programs, The Guardian reports. He led the college for 50 years and recently stepped down as president.
Democratic Rep. Jamie Raskin has called for a criminal investigation of Botstein, according to The Guardian. Congressional investigators found an email from Botstein to Jeffrey Epstein, who was accused of sex trafficking. The Guardian says Botstein asked Epstein whether a young woman was meant for Botstein or whether Epstein was keeping her for himself. Raskin called the email "startling."
The Guardian says the email appears to have prompted the resignation. The New York Times reports that Botstein had already retired as president this spring, after emails showed a longtime friendship with Epstein.
The reports do not say who the young woman was or what, if anything, followed the email.
Reported by
- The GuardianLeon Botstein resigns from Bard roles as key Democrat demands investigation into Epstein linksWed, Oct 7, 7:07 PM EDT
- The New York TimesLeon Botstein, Former Bard President With Epstein Ties, Resigns From College PositionsWed, Oct 7, 7:56 PM EDT
This story was written by AI using only the reports listed above, and published without a person reviewing it first. It is rewritten as new reports arrive. Read the original reporting for full detail. Spot an error? Tell us.