Bard College Opens Review of Its President’s Ties to Jeffrey Epstein
📅 February 20, 2026
✍️ Editor: Sudhir Choudhary, The Vagabond News
Annandale-on-Hudson, New York — February 19, 2026: Bard College announced that it has opened an independent review into its president’s past ties to the late financier Jeffrey Epstein, following renewed public scrutiny and questions raised by alumni and faculty.
The college’s Board of Trustees confirmed in a written statement that it has authorized an external review to examine the nature and extent of any professional or financial connections between Bard’s president and Epstein, who died in federal custody in 2019 while awaiting trial on federal sex trafficking charges.
College officials said the review will be conducted by an outside law firm and will focus on whether any donations, advisory roles, or institutional relationships were established, and whether they complied with ethical and governance standards at the time.
Board Authorizes Independent Inquiry
In its February 19 statement, the Board of Trustees said the review is intended to provide transparency and clarity to the Bard community. The board emphasized that no findings of wrongdoing have been announced and that the inquiry is fact-finding in nature.
According to the statement, the investigation will assess whether Epstein made financial contributions to the college, directly or indirectly, and whether the president had personal or advisory interactions with him.
The college has not publicly detailed specific allegations prompting the review but acknowledged “serious concerns raised by members of the community.”
Epstein’s Broader Academic Connections
Epstein maintained relationships with numerous academic institutions and scholars prior to his 2019 arrest. Investigations following his death revealed financial ties to universities, research initiatives, and individual academics across the United States.
Several institutions, including major universities, previously launched internal reviews or returned donations linked to Epstein after his arrest on federal charges in July 2019 in New York.
The U.S. Department of Justice charged Epstein with sex trafficking minors before his death at the Metropolitan Correctional Center in Manhattan on August 10, 2019. The New York City medical examiner ruled the death a suicide.
Community Response and Next Steps
Faculty members and alumni groups have called for transparency in recent days, urging the college to clarify any financial or institutional links. Some have requested the publication of donor records if relevant.
Bard College stated that the independent review will include document examination and interviews where appropriate. Officials did not provide a timeline for when findings will be released.
As of February 20, 2026, no evidence has been publicly presented indicating that Epstein influenced academic programming or governance at Bard College.
The board reiterated that the review does not presume misconduct and that conclusions will be based on documented evidence.
Sources
Associated Press
The New York Times
Bard College Board of Trustees Statement
Tags
Bard College, Jeffrey Epstein, Higher Education, College Governance, Annandale-on-Hudson New York
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