Harvard University and Bard College have received formal information requests from Rep. Jamie Raskin regarding Jeffrey Epstein’s relationships with faculty and donors. The Hasty Pudding Club is reviewing membership status of Andrew Farkas, identified as a close associate of Epstein.

Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and Bard College in Annandale-on-Hudson, New York, were each sent letters on June 17, 2026, by Representative Jamie Raskin, ranking member of the House Judiciary Committee, requesting a “comprehensive accounting” of how Jeffrey Epstein leveraged ties to the institutions to enhance his reputation and allegedly facilitate criminal activity [4]. The correspondence arrived amid ongoing public debate about the legacy of Epstein’s philanthropy and the extent of his influence on campus [1][2].

The letters follow a series of internal reviews conducted by Harvard after earlier disclosures of Epstein’s donations and meetings with senior faculty. Former Harvard president Larry Summers, who stepped down from a faculty position in 2026, is among the individuals whose interactions with Epstein are under renewed scrutiny [3]. At Bard, outgoing president Leon Botstein has been asked to provide records of any financial or advisory relationships with Epstein or his representatives [2]. The Hasty Pudding Club, a historic student-run social organization at Harvard, announced on July 15, 2026, that it is considering the removal of member Andrew Farkas, who was identified in media reports as one of Epstein’s “closest associates” [1].

Legislative Inquiry and Institutional Response

Rep. Raskin’s June 17, 2026, letters asked Harvard and Bard to produce documentation of all financial contributions, meetings, and advisory roles involving Epstein or his affiliates since 2000 [4]. The request also sought names of faculty who participated in events funded by Epstein and any internal investigations the universities have conducted since the 2019 revelations of his criminal conduct [2]. Harvard’s Office of General Counsel confirmed receipt of the request and indicated that a task force would compile the required information within a 60-day window [3].

Bard College’s administration responded by acknowledging the request and stating that it would cooperate fully with the congressional inquiry. In a statement, Bard’s legal counsel noted that the college had previously disclosed a $1 million donation from Epstein in 2015, which was subsequently returned following public outcry [2]. The college also indicated that it had conducted an internal audit in 2020, but that the audit’s findings had not been shared with federal authorities until now [2].

Legislative Inquiry and Institutional Response Rep.

Harvard’s internal review, initiated in early 2025, concluded that while Epstein had met with several faculty members, no evidence was found of direct involvement in hiring or admissions decisions [3]. However, the review acknowledged that the university’s earlier handling of the matter “did not fully address the scope of Epstein’s engagement with the campus community,” prompting the current request for a more exhaustive accounting [3].

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Hasty Pudding Club’s Membership Decision

The Hasty Pudding Club, founded in 1795, announced on July 15, 2026, that it would convene a special committee to evaluate the membership of Andrew Farkas, a recent alumnus and current member who has been linked to Epstein through business and social connections [1]. The club’s statement cited “the need to uphold the organization’s values and respond to community concerns” as the rationale for the review [1].

Committee members include senior alumni, current undergraduates, and faculty advisors. According to the club’s charter, membership can be revoked for conduct deemed “inconsistent with the club’s standards of integrity and public trust” [1]. The committee is expected to deliver a recommendation to the club’s governing board by the end of August 2026, after reviewing documented interactions between Farkas and Epstein, as well as any related philanthropic activities on campus [1].

Student groups at Harvard have organized forums to discuss the broader implications of maintaining ties to individuals associated with Epstein. While some alumni have expressed support for a swift removal of Farkas, others have called for due-process protections and a transparent investigation before any action is taken [1]. The club’s decision will be communicated publicly, and any outcome is likely to influence how other elite campus organizations handle similar legacy issues.

Impact on Students, Faculty, and Institutions

The congressional inquiry places immediate pressure on Harvard and Bard to disclose records that could affect current fundraising efforts and donor relations. Universities typically rely on private philanthropy; the heightened scrutiny may lead to more stringent vetting of future gifts and a reassessment of existing endowments linked to controversial donors [2]. Faculty members who participated in events funded by Epstein may face questions about their judgment and the adequacy of institutional oversight [3].

For current students, the developments could alter campus climate, prompting increased activism around transparency and ethical standards.

For current students, the developments could alter campus climate, prompting increased activism around transparency and ethical standards. Student governments at both institutions have pledged to monitor the outcomes of the investigations and to advocate for policies that prevent similar relationships in the future [1]. The Hasty Pudding Club’s deliberation serves as a microcosm of the broader institutional reckoning, signaling that legacy organizations are also subject to public accountability.

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Administrators at Harvard have indicated that any findings from the congressional request will be incorporated into a revised campus-wide policy on donor vetting and conflict-of-interest disclosures [3]. Bard’s board of trustees is expected to review the audit results and consider whether additional governance reforms are needed to safeguard academic integrity [2]. Both institutions have signaled that they will maintain open communication with students, faculty, and alumni throughout the process, aiming to restore confidence in their governance structures.

Key Facts

What: Harvard and Bard receive congressional requests for information on Jeffrey Epstein’s ties; the Hasty Pudding Club reviews membership of associate Andrew Farkas.

When: Letters sent June 17, 2026; club decision process announced July 15, 2026.

Impact: Universities must disclose past interactions, potentially reshaping donor policies; students and clubs confront immediate ethical and governance decisions.

Impact: Universities must disclose past interactions, potentially reshaping donor policies; students and clubs confront immediate ethical and governance decisions.

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Sources

• Should Epstein’s Friends Be Punished? An Elite Harvard Club Is Torn … – The New York Times
• Harvard and Bard face fresh questions from lawmakers over ties to Epstein – The Guardian
• House Dems Expand Epstein Investigation to Bard, Harvard – Inside Higher Ed
• Judiciary Democrats Expand Investigation Into How Epstein Leveraged … – U.S. House Judiciary Committee