This story was updated on Feb. 11, 2026 at 6:13 p.m.

The New School Free Press is reviewing documents recently released by the Department of Justice regarding Jeffrey Epstein, some of which show Epstein’s involvement with The New School and its personnel. Tips can be sent to [email protected].

Documents released by the Department of Justice (DOJ) show convicted child sex offender Jeffrey Epstein and former New School President Bob Kerrey arranged to meet multiple times between 2013 and 2014. The documents also reveal that Epstein coordinated payments to cover tuition for at least one New School student.

Kerrey, who served as university president from 2001 through 2010, and as president emeritus until the end of the 2012–2013 academic year, had arranged at least five meals with Epstein, many at Epstein’s Manhattan townhouse. At least three of the meals were arranged on behalf of Kerrey by his scheduler and assistant, Nily Ahmed, who was also employed by the university. 

In 2008, Epstein was sentenced to 18 months in jail, followed by one year of house arrest, after he was found guilty of soliciting sex from girls as young as 14. Epstein had been registered as a sex offender in New York for at least three years when Kerrey first met with him, according to the documents.

In a statement to the New School Free Press, Amy Malsin, vice president of university communications, said, “It is apparent from the files released by the Department of Justice that Jeffrey Epstein was often in touch with members of the higher education community. We regret that anyone associated with our university was in contact with him.”

An email exchange with Stephen Kosslyn, former chair of the psychology department and dean of social sciences at Harvard University, shows Kerrey’s first scheduled meeting with Epstein took place on Feb. 22, 2013. 

In an interview with The New School Free Press, Kerrey, a former governor of Nebraska and U.S. senator from Nebraska, said this was the only interaction with Epstein he remembered. Kerrey said Kosslyn, the founding dean of Minerva University, invited him to a luncheon with Epstein as he thought Epstein might make a financial contribution to the Minerva Project. Kerrey is currently Chair Emeritus at Minerva University.

Kerrey’s name was also mentioned in an email sent by Kosslyn on Feb. 27, 2010, which reads, “Trouble with New School: Kerr[e]y is out of there after this year, and it’s unclear who the new President will be.” The New School Free Press cannot confirm whether Kerrey knew Epstein personally at this time.

Guests mentioned in emails organizing the meals between Kerrey and Epstein included Woody Allen, a filmmaker who has been accused of sexual abuse by his daughter, and Ehud Barak, an Israeli general who served as the prime minister of Israel from 1999 to 2001. Kerrey was also invited to lunch with Epstein and Peter Thiel, a co-founder of PayPal and Palantir.

Kerrey said he did not remember meeting with Woody Allen or Ehud Barak.

Kerrey, who now has a residence hall named after him, was a controversial president at The New School. In 2008 and again in 2009, students occupied the 65 Fifth Avenue building, demanding his resignation. Students condemned his support of the Iraq war, his involvement in the Thanh Phong raid during the Vietnam War, and what they considered a controlling management style. Kerrey also received a vote of no confidence from faculty in 2008.

DOJ files also document Epstein’s involvement with students enrolled at The New School. Epstein agreed to make tuition payments for at least one student who attended The New School in 2014, according to email exchanges between his staff and a student whose name has been redacted from the tranche of documents.

Multiple exchanges also allude to a close relationship between Epstein and a New School student. Direct communication between the two from 2017 reads, “I am not sure when they send us the protocol for getting tickets but I will be emailing you then with an invitation… so you can start thinking of your excuse now because it will have to be an extremely good one if you want to get out of this event ;)) I loooove you.” At this stage, the New School Free Press is unable to confirm whether the two aforementioned email exchanges took place between Epstein and an individual or multiple students.

A previous version of this article conflated Minerva University with the Minerva Project. The correct version states Stephen Kosslyn as founding dean of Minerva University.

This story was updated to include a comment from Kerrey. Information about Kerrey’s career as a governor and senator and his current position at Minerva University was also added.

This story was updated to include a statement from university representative Amy Malsin.