Scandal has been swirling around the MIT Media Lab because of its ties to Jeffrey Epstein, with the prestigious university apologizing for taking $800,000 from the accused sex trafficker and several researchers quitting in protest.
The report, which cites leaked emails and other records, appears to contradict lab director Joichi Ito’s recent claim that his decision to accept Epstein’s donations was simply an “error in judgement.”EPSTEIN ALLEGEDLY ‘DIRECTED’ DONATION FROM BILL GATESEpstein acted as an intermediary to woo other wealthy donors, including Bill Gates, who donated $2 million in 2014, and investor Leon Black, who gave $5.5 million in 2015, according to the report.
THE LAB WENT TO GREAT LENGTHS TO HIDE EPSTEIN’S INVOLVEMENTThe Media Lab’s efforts to keep Epstein’s involvement under wraps was so well-known among staffers that some employees in Ito’s office referred to the convicted sex offender as Voldemort, “he who must not be named” from the Harry Potter series, Farrow reported. In MIT’s official donor database, Epstein was listed as “disqualified”—and the lab took pains to make sure his dealings were kept secret.
Story continuesEPSTEIN VISITED WITH ‘FEMALE ASSISTANTS’Epstein was reportedly invited to the Media Lab in 2015 to provide “input” on the projects his money was funding. Signe Swenson, a former development associate and alumni coordinator at the Media Lab, told The New Yorker she had pushed back against the visit in vain. Swenson said she ultimately resigned in 2016 partly because of the lab’s ties to Epstein. “I don’t think he should be on campus,” Swenson recalled saying at the time.
Yes... it's almost as if rich people can pay their way in (or their kids way) and it's ok!! Really honorable learning institutions. Money, money, money, money. 💰
Bill Gates? Anyone with so much crap? Free from contamination? Another selfserving philanthropist! May be better than Bill Clinton!