A House Judiciary Committee investigation has raised new concerns about Jeffrey Epstein’s past ties to New York University (NYU) and Columbia University. According to interviews with survivors, Epstein allegedly used promises of college admission and tuition payments to lure and control young women in the early 2000s. These findings have prompted congressional leaders to formally seek answers from both universities.
Representative Jamie Raskin, the ranking member of the House Judiciary Committee, sent letters to NYU and Columbia requesting records of any correspondence, tuition payments, or donations connected to Epstein or entities he controlled. The letters say survivors described being promised access to elite education as part of Epstein’s network of exploitation.
Epstein was arrested in Florida in 2006 and again in 2019. He died in jail in 2019 while awaiting trial. The current investigation aims to better understand how his influence and financial resources were used during the years before his arrests.
Claims That Education Was Used as Leverage
According to the letters sent to the universities, multiple survivors told congressional investigators that Epstein repeatedly promised to help them gain admission into NYU or Columbia. Some women said these promises were made when they were young and seeking opportunities in modeling or acting.
Several women reported that Epstein paid for them to take classes or attend degree programs. In some cases, tuition was paid through foundations or entities controlled by Epstein and his advisers. Survivors said the payments were often framed as scholarships or generous support.
Before the Abraham Accords, Epstein was already opening doors between Israel and the UAE
At Columbia University, Epstein paid for at least two women he abused to attend the school in the early 2000s. During that same period, he also made donations to Columbia and its dental school. At NYU, survivors said Epstein promised admission and paid for classes, with one woman telling congressional staff that she received a degree despite missing many classes.
Some survivors said Epstein attempted to control their academic progress. They described being pressured to take fewer classes or specific courses chosen for them. Others said he threatened to stop paying tuition if they did not comply. This control made them feel dependent and unable to leave.
Survivor Accounts and University Responses
One survivor, Lisa Phillips, said she met Epstein in the early 2000s while working as an actress and fashion model. Epstein arranged for her to visit NYU’s campus and later paid for her to take classes there, though she never enrolled in a degree program. Phillips said a friend who was also being sexually exploited by Epstein was studying at NYU at the same time and had her tuition paid by him.
When Phillips later connected with other survivors, many realized Epstein had offered access to the same small group of elite schools. Some women were reluctant to come forward, fearing their degrees or academic affiliations would be questioned.
Another survivor said Epstein made her feel indebted by claiming he had used his connections to get her into Columbia University. She completed her degree while working as a model. She said Epstein paid part of her tuition through one of his foundations and tried to dictate which classes she took.
A third woman said Epstein paid her Columbia tuition and sometimes overpaid, then asked her to deposit refunds into her bank account for living expenses. She said he threatened to cut off support if she did not follow his instructions. After she graduated, he repeatedly reminded her of his financial help.
Some survivors said their tuition and expenses were arranged by Darren Indyke and Richard Kahn, Epstein’s longtime lawyer and accountant, who are now co-executors of his estate. Both men have denied knowing about Epstein’s crimes and are being questioned by the House Oversight Committee.
NYU and Columbia confirmed they received the committee’s letters and said they are reviewing the requests and cooperating with the investigation.
