International
oi-Ashish Rana
Harvard University is once again facing intense scrutiny over its long and controversial association with Jeffrey Epstein, after newly released US Justice Department documents reportedly revealed that several faculty members continued to maintain contact with him even after he served jail time and was registered as a sex offender.
Newly released US Justice Department documents show Harvard faculty maintained contact with Jeffrey Epstein after his conviction, leading to a second university review, resignations, and leaves.
The latest revelations, reviewed by The New York Times, have reignited questions about how Epstein managed to cultivate influence within one of the world’s most prestigious academic institutions despite his criminal record and lack of academic credentials.
New Documents Highlight Harvard Faculty’s Continued Contact
According to The New York Times, the newly released files show that Epstein’s connections with Harvard extended far beyond donations and social access. The documents reportedly suggest that professors continued to visit him, endorse him and even acknowledge him in academic work after his 2008 conviction and subsequent release from jail.
One of the most striking examples cited in the report involves Stephen Kosslyn, then a Harvard psychology professor. On the day Epstein was released from Palm Beach County jail in July 2009 after serving 13 months for solicitation and prostitution with a minor, Epstein wrote to Kosslyn saying he was “home and free.” Kosslyn reportedly responded enthusiastically with exclamation marks.
Just weeks later, Epstein is said to have reached out to Lawrence Summers, who at the time was serving in a senior role in the Obama administration after his tenure at Harvard. In an email to an associate, Epstein reportedly wrote, “Give him the home number and email address.”
How Epstein Built Influence Without A Degree
Though Epstein was not a Harvard graduate and did not complete an undergraduate degree, he spent more than two decades cultivating a relationship with the university that gave him access to elite academic circles and the prestige associated with them.
The report says Epstein donated $9.2 million to Harvard through 22 separate gifts. In return, he reportedly secured a visiting fellowship, despite lacking the academic background typically required for such a role. The fellowship was said to have been facilitated by Kosslyn.
Epstein also managed to establish a physical presence on campus. He was given a named room in a university programme that became known as “Jeffrey’s office,” reportedly decorated with his own rug and personal photographs. Records cited by the report indicate he visited the space around 40 times between 2010 and 2018.
The documents also allege that when a publicist told mathematician Martin Nowak that having a Harvard web address linked to Epstein would improve his Google search results, Nowak complied.
Harvard’s First Review Criticised For Going Soft
Following Epstein’s death in 2019, Harvard launched an internal review into the university’s relationship with him. That investigation interviewed about 40 people and examined roughly 2.5 lakh pages of material.
The review ultimately resulted in sanctions against Martin Nowak, but critics argued that it failed to fully examine the role of other prominent figures. Lawrence Summers, whose name appeared in the findings only once and in a limited context, was largely treated as a peripheral figure.
Investigators reportedly noted that faculty members had visited Epstein while he was in jail, travelled on his private aircraft and stayed at his island, but the inquiry did not pursue those details further.
Lawrence Lessig, a Harvard Law professor who publicly criticised the 2020 review, told The New York Times, “They wanted to minimise the embarrassment.”
The terms of reference for the 2020 inquiry also drew criticism because they excluded conduct that did not directly violate Harvard policy, even if it reflected ethically troubling behaviour. Much of what Epstein reportedly built within Harvard’s ecosystem fell into that grey area.
Second Review Underway As Student Anger Grows
Harvard has now begun a second review after millions of additional government documents were released. The university is reassessing what the newly surfaced records may reveal about the extent of Epstein’s access and the role of faculty members in sustaining it.
Since then, Lawrence Summers has resigned, while Martin Nowak has been placed on leave. A Harvard spokesperson said the university would “continue to evaluate what additional actions may be warranted.”
The controversy has also deeply unsettled students. Rosie Couture, a Harvard senior who was reportedly subjected to a disciplinary inquiry after sharing a video of Summers discussing Epstein in class, said the slow emergence of new revelations has been especially painful on campus.
Speaking to The New York Times, she said, “It’s horrifying and sad, especially for young women.”
The latest disclosures have renewed broader concerns about how elite institutions respond when wealth, influence and reputation collide with accountability, and whether Harvard’s earlier attempts to confront its Epstein ties were ever truly sufficient.
