There were Nobel laureates and acclaimed authors. Pioneers of science and medicine. At least one was a college president. High-profile academics spun in Jeffrey Epstein’s orbit for years, even after he was convicted of sex crimes. Now, facing backlash, many say they were driven by a single factor: Epstein's wealth.
A new trove of documents released by the Justice Department reveals Epstein’s reach into academia was deeper than previously known. He kept close with dozens of researchers who exchanged chummy emails while leaning on him to fund their projects. Some sent him gifts and visited him in New York and Florida. Several offered sympathy as he faced fallout from his crimes.
