Bard President Botstein Announces Retirement After Epstein Review

Leon Botstein, the longtime president of Bard College in Annandale-on-Hudson, New York, announced his retirement Friday, effective at the end of June, months after documents revealed a closer relationship with Jeffrey Epstein than he had previously acknowledged.

Botstein, 79, who has led the small liberal arts college since 1975, made the announcement in an email to the Bard community. He did not directly address the Epstein scrutiny in the message but noted that he had delayed the public disclosure until after an independent review of his communications with the financier. Botstein plans to remain at Bard as a faculty member, continuing his roles as a teacher and musician.

The review, conducted by the law firm WilmerHale and commissioned by Bard's trustees, concluded that Botstein engaged in no illegal activity. However, it found that he minimized the relationship in public statements and was not fully accurate in describing it. Documents released by the U.S. Justice Department this year showed multiple meetings between Botstein and Epstein, including Epstein's arrivals at the campus by helicopter. Botstein invited Epstein to the 2013 commencement ceremonies, suggested they...