MANHATTAN — Leon Botstein retired as president of Bard College on July 1, 2026. Jonathan Becker became acting president of the college on July 2, 2026.

Botstein served as president for 51 years. During his tenure, he established the Bard Music Festival, the Bard High School Early Colleges, and the Bard Prison Initiative. He raised a cumulative $3 billion for the college.

His retirement followed an investigation into his ties with Jeffrey Epstein and criticism from faculty and a U.S. congressman. The law firm WilmerHale determined in May 2026 that Botstein never took part in anything illegal regarding his ties to Epstein. The firm also determined that Botstein minimized his relationship with Epstein.

Maryland Congressman Jamie Raskin requested that outgoing Bard board chairman James Cox Chambers make Botstein available for a transcribed interview with the House Judiciary Committee on June 17, 2026. Raskin wrote that the WilmerHale investigation failed to examine the full extent of Epstein's connections to Bard College. The congressman also wrote that Bard courted Epstein aggressively, inviting him to campus and Bard High School to meet with Botstein, attend performances, and meet Bard students at receptions.

Raskin stated that Botstein acknowledged Epstein was a convicted felon for a sex crime. Raskin noted that Botstein had about two dozen meetings with Epstein over four years, with most occurring at Epstein's New York City townhouse. Raskin asked Chambers to provide materials from the WilmerHale investigation, notes and transcripts from board meetings related to Epstein, and other college documents by a July 1, 2026 deadline. A Bard College spokesperson stated in June 2026 that the college received the letter and was reviewing it.

Current and former employees of the Fisher Center at Bard published an open letter asking the board not to engage Botstein in any contract related to music and performing arts activity at Bard College. More than 144 people associated with the Fisher Center signed the letter as of the afternoon of July 1, 2026. Botstein had planned to stay on as a faculty member at Bard College and continue his leadership roles with the Bard Music Festival, SummerScape, and the Bard Conservatory after his retirement.

Botstein told an external law firm investigating his ties to Epstein, "I would take money from Satan if it permitted me to do God's work." He also spoke at a Bard High School Early College graduation ceremony in Manhattan, telling students, "To get anything done, you're going to have to dance with the devil." He added, "The fifth piece of advice I would give is appropriate to your response: Don't judge too quickly things in life." A Bard spokesperson stated that Botstein was not referencing his relationship with Epstein when he made comments about dancing with the devil.

Why It Matters

Leon Botstein's 51-year tenure as Bard College president ended with scrutiny regarding his association with Jeffrey Epstein. The involvement of a U.S. congressman and an open letter from over 144 individuals affiliated with a college program show the scope of the concerns. The WilmerHale investigation found no illegal conduct, but its conclusion that Botstein minimized his relationship with Epstein indicates ongoing questions about his judgment. The college's response to the congressional inquiry and the faculty concerns will shape its leadership and direction for the new acting president.