Each batch of documents declassified by the United States Department of Justice within the framework of the Transparency Act Epstein Archivesreveals more details of the links of the financier accused of sex trafficking of minors – who in 2019 was found dead in his cell before being tried – with all kinds of personalities: politicians, artists, officials, members of British royalty, and also prestigious scientists.
The scandal has already transcended borders and had a domino effect on the European continent, first with the arrest of former prince Andreweighth in line to the throne in the United Kingdom, and then in Paris with the discovery of Epstein’s illicit activities in the upper echelons of Parisian society.
Days ago, the publication of photos of the late theoretical physicist generated great media attention. Stephen Hawking at a scientific summit on the island of St. Thomas, organized and financed by Epstein. The commotion was such that his family had to clarify the circumstances of those images.
Now the magazine Naturewhich highlights discoveries in the field of science, published an article where compiled and updated all academics facing consequences after being linked to the Epstein case.
The publication clarifies that although several scientists are named in the more than three million declassified files, these mentions do not imply that they were involved in Epstein’s criminal activities or had knowledge of his alleged crimes. Below is a list of each particular case:
Jack Horner, the consulting paleontologist for Jurassic Parkand his emails with Epstein
He paleontologist John Jack Horner He was an advisor to the film saga Jurassic Parkand until last week he worked at Chapman University in Orange, California.
University spokesperson Robert Hitchcock indicated that Horner is no longer part of the teaching team, following an internal investigation where the content of the leaked emails was analyzed.
Emails included in the newly released files show that Horner visited Epstein at one of his properties in 2012when he was a student at Montana State University in Bozeman.
In a 2012 e-mail to Epstein’s assistant, Horner thanked the financier and «the girls» after his visit.
Horner explained that he had attended request a donation for a research project, and told the authorities that he knew that Epstein had been accused of soliciting a prostitute, and that he had served a sentence in 2008, but said that he was «unaware of any other accusations or misconduct.»
He also assured that he regrets not having investigated Epstein’s background and that acted with «lack of judgment» when looking for him as a donor. In turn, he apologized for having used the term «girls» to refer to the people who were introduced to him as university students during his visit.
«Now I understand that the students They could have been victims of Epstein«Horner said.
The controversial admission of Karyna Shuliak, Epstein’s girlfriend, to Columbia University
In a Feb. 11 statement, Columbia University announced it was sanctioning a dental researcher and a dentist with voluntary appointment as a professor for their involvement in what the university calls the «irregular» admission of a student to Columbia Dental School.
The university did not release the name of the student, but some of the newly released files indicate that he was Karyna Shuliak, Epstein’s girlfriend and heir.
The dental school initially rejected Shuliak in 2012, but that same year, she managed to be admitted, after receiving help from Letty Moss-Salentijnvice dean of academic affairs of the faculty, and Thomas Magnani who was in private dental practice in New York City and was on the dental school admissions review committee, according to newly released records.
In 2018, Moss-Salentijn sent a project proposal to Shuliak and organized a dinner with Epstein and Magnani to discuss it, according to the files. The emails also indicate that Magnani was involved in obtaining financial donations from Epstein to the university.
Columbia officials stated that Shuliak’s admission «did not meet their standards of integrity and independence in the admissions process.»
They made the decision to terminate Magnani’s voluntary appointment as a professor, and his private dental practice is no longer linked to the institution. In turn, Moss-Salentijn will leave her administrative duties, but remains a full professor.
The resignation of Richard Axel, winner of the Nobel Prize in Medicine, after his links to Epstein became known
On February 24, Richard Axel, biologist who won the Nobel Prize in Medicine in 2004, and professor at Columbia University 53 years ago in New York City, announced his resignation as co-director of Columbia’s Mortimer B. Zuckerman Institute for Mind, Brain, and Behavior because of his ties to Epstein.
«My association with Jeffrey Epstein in the past was a serious error in judgment, which I deeply regret»Axel said in a statement after the friendship between the two, Axel’s visits to Epstein’s house and the scientist’s intermediation with the university on behalf of the sex offender, in matters of admissions and philanthropy, became clear.
«I apologize for jeopardizing the trust of my friends, students and colleagues. I recognize the problems this has caused and I will work to restore this trust,» said the scientist who won the Nobel Prize in medicine for discovering the genetic foundations and organization of the olfactory system.
«What has emerged about Epstein’s terrible conduct, the harm he has caused to so many people, makes my association with him even more painful and inexcusable«he added.
The scientist is not accused of any crime in relation to Epstein, and Columbia, for its part, assured that «they have no evidence that Dr. Axel violated any university policy or the law,» but in view of that relationship with Epstein, they consider it appropriate that he has left his position as co-director.
The university also announced that the Howard Hughes Medical Institute will provide funding so that members of Axel’s laboratory can complete their current research, and highlighted the impact of their work on understanding brain function and producing therapies.
An economist and a Harvard biologist, also under scrutiny by Epstein’s files
The debate in the scientific field focuses on the protocols for admitting funds for research, and work is being done to improve the shortcomings so that nothing similar to the Epstein case happens again.
The magazine Nature indicates that the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in Cambridge accepted a total of US$850,000 from Epstein over approximately 15 years.
The economist Lawrence Summers He left his academic position at the University of Harvard in Cambridge, Massachusetts, due to his ties to the financier.
Summersr also resigned from his role as co-director of Harvard’s Mossavar-Rahmani Center for Business and Government. University spokespersons confirmed that Harvard mathematical biologist, Martin Nowakis on leave during an investigation into his association with Epstein.
