MIT sets review of donations, apologizes for Jeffrey Epstein ties

[Judi Lynn]

Source: Reuters

AUGUST 22, 2019 / 8:33 PM / UPDATED 2 HOURS AGO

Joseph Menn
3 MIN READ

(Reuters) - Massachusetts Institute of Technology President Rafael Reif said on Thursday that the elite university would review its process for accepting donations after taking about $800,000 from foundations controlled by financier Jeffrey Epstein, who committed suicide earlier this month while being held in jail while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges.

In a letter to MIT affiliates, Reif said all the money received from foundations controlled by Epstein had gone to the MIT Media Lab or Professor Seth Lloyd.

Both Lloyd, a mechanical engineering professor at MIT, and Media Lab director Joi Ito posted apologies online for having accepted donations from foundations controlled by Epstein.

“Despite following the processes that have served MIT well for many years, in this instance we made a mistake of judgment,” Reif wrote. “I have asked Provost Marty Schmidt to convene a group to examine the facts around the Epstein donations and identify any lessons for the future.”



Read more: https://www.reuters.com/article/us-people-jeffrey-epstein-mit/mit-sets-review-of-donations-apologizes-for-jeffrey-epstein-ties-idUSKCN1VD04Y