A top Democrat in Congress sent letters to Harvard University and Bard College on June 17, 2026, asking them to explain their connections to Jeffrey Epstein and whether those connections helped him commit crimes, according to a House Judiciary Democrats press release.

The letters are part of an ongoing investigation by House Democrats into how Epstein used his relationships with top universities. Rep. Jamie Raskin, who leads the Democrats on the House Judiciary Committee, is also asking to interview Bard's outgoing president, per The Guardian.

Epstein was a wealthy financier convicted in 2008 of prostitution charges. He died in federal custody in 2019 while awaiting trial on charges of sex trafficking. For decades, Epstein gave money to universities, especially Harvard. He donated to Harvard's Program for Evolutionary Dynamics and had official ties there. At Bard College, a small school in New York, Epstein also gave money and had contact with leadership during the presidency of León Botstein. Asking to interview Bard's current president adds time pressure to these requests.

One important detail: Raskin's investigation is run by the minority party (Democrats) in the House, which means he cannot force universities to give him documents or make people testify. Instead, the letters create a public record and put pressure on university leaders. Many universities today worry about losing federal funding, which makes them sensitive to criticism from Congress.

This is not the first time Raskin has investigated Epstein issues. In February 2026, he asked the Justice Department's inspector general to look into whether the Justice Department was secretly tracking lawmakers who were reviewing Epstein files. That action showed Raskin's broader interest in holding both universities and the government accountable.

What this adds up to is a larger effort to document how institutions enabled Epstein. Whether the Republican-controlled majority will continue this work is unclear. But when investigators lay groundwork like this, it often shapes what Congress does next, especially if public attention grows.

Harvard is in a difficult position because it is already fighting with the federal government over funding and independence. Fresh questions about Epstein make things harder. Bard faces the same kind of problem — both universities now face public scrutiny over past connections to a convicted criminal.

The core question remains unanswered: Did these universities knowingly help Epstein, or did they simply not ask the right questions? If documents and testimony emerge, they might show whether staff at these universities ever raised concerns, whether Epstein had systematic access to students, and whether the universities bear some responsibility for what happened.