ANNANDALE-ON-HUDSON, NEW YORK — Leon Botstein announced he is stepping down as president of Bard College, effective June 30, following an independent review by the law firm WilmerHale of his interactions with Jeffrey Epstein. Bard's board of trustees, which commissioned the review earlier this year, received the findings on April 30.

The review found that Botstein and Epstein were in contact from 2012 to 2019, during which Botstein made about 25 visits to Epstein's townhouse and a two-day visit to Epstein's Little St James Island. Epstein visited Bard twice, and the visits included multiple women who have since been identified as victims of Epstein, according to the review.

The review found that a senior faculty member warned Botstein that he should not engage with Epstein. Botstein believed that a convicted sex offender could be presumed rehabilitated because he had served time in prison, and argued that Bard's need for funds was paramount, the review found. The review also found that Botstein said he did not see a risk to Bard's reputation in pursuing Epstein or the potential risk to Bard students of exposure to Epstein, nor did he consider that his actions could validate and legitimize Epstein to potential victims or their parents.

WilmerHale stated in the review: "In his public statements and his statements to the Bard community, President Botstein minimized and was not fully accurate in describing his relationship with Epstein." According to the review, Botstein accepted fees under a consulting agreement with an entity associated with Epstein in 2016 and did not disclose the agreement to the board because he intended to donate the funds to Bard.

Botstein told investigators the fees were donated to the college by rolling them into his and his wife's contributions and were not separately identified from Epstein. The review found that documents could not confirm the contribution of the consulting fees to Bard. The review also noted that Botstein extended other invitations to Epstein, including a stay at Bard's guest cottage, attendance at a concert by conservatory students, and a visit to Bard High School Early College, which were not accepted.

Botstein, who has served Bard for five decades, said he had informed the board that, considering his 51 years of service and his upcoming eightieth birthday, it had been his intention to retire from the presidency. He said he intends to remain a faculty member, teacher, and musician at the college and will live at Finberg House on campus.

The board of trustees called for an orderly transition at the end of Botstein's presidency and said funds associated with Epstein would be directed to organizations that support survivors of sexual harm.