ANNANDALE-ON-HUDSON, NEW YORK — The board of trustees of Bard College retained the law firm WilmerHale in February to review the full scope of communications between President Leon Botstein and Jeffrey Epstein, Epstein's interactions with Bard College, related financial contributions, and other related matters, according to a board statement. The review followed the U.S. Department of Justice's release earlier in the year of millions of internal files showing that Botstein and Epstein regularly corresponded.

A spokesperson for WilmerHale said, "Our review is ongoing." A spokesperson for the college said it engaged an independent law firm to review communications to understand the facts and improve its vetting procedures, and that the college regrets accepting donations from Epstein.

Botstein, who has been president of Bard for more than 50 years, first met Epstein in 2011. Epstein had pleaded guilty to state charges of soliciting prostitution and soliciting a minor for prostitution before that meeting. Botstein denied that he and Epstein were friends.

Among the released files was an email dated Jan. 4, 2015, sent from an account labeled "President" and signed "Leon," that expressed condolences over Epstein being the subject of a "resurgence of tabloid publicity" and stated, "True friendship, in my view, is among the most honorable and rare of virtues. And I value our friendship, so if there is any way I can be of help, let me know." A spokesperson for Botstein said he lacked "detailed context" when he sent the email and described it as a "courtesy note."

Botstein traveled to Epstein's island in 2012. "President Botstein came down with a severe flu on the trip, kept to himself after dinner, and isolated himself in a resort-style bungalow overnight," a spokesperson for Botstein said. An Epstein victim who was on the island at the time said she had no recollection of Botstein isolating himself during the visit.

The files also showed exchanges between the two men in May and June 2014. On May 13, 2014, Epstein emailed Botstein asking, "Are you around?" On May 14, 2014, an email from an account labeled "President" and including Botstein's unredacted Bard College email address asked Epstein, "When and where should I call? Look forward also to seeing you." On June 6, 2014, Epstein asked Botstein for orchestra tickets in Warsaw for the parents of an individual whose name is redacted. Botstein replied, "Yes of course: done LB."

A student-led group called Take Back Bard posted on Instagram a copy of a separate email involving Epstein that cannot definitively be linked to Botstein. On May 15, 2014, Epstein forwarded an email from an individual identified as "President" that read, "Is [redacted] for me, or are you keeping her for yourself. I need some help. I am only available on sat. I will be all the help I can to her but you need to help me." A college spokesperson said of the message, "It has absolutely nothing to do with Bard College or President Botstein." The same spokesperson said, "First of all, Epstein is in touch with tons of presidents, [Botstein] is not the only named president in email exchanges. All the other emails we have not pushed back on that are from President Botstein but this is definitely not his."