Investigation reveals allegations of sexual harassment at a US art school, with Epstein among those named
Kyiv • UNN
An independent investigation at the Interlochen Center for the Arts uncovered 70 testimonies of sexual abuse by 47 faculty members. Two former students reported sexualized behavior by financier Jeffrey Epstein.
An independent investigation has uncovered dozens of allegations of sexual assault and misconduct at the Interlochen Center for the Arts in Michigan, as well as testimony from two former students about the sexualized behavior of financier Jeffrey Epstein. This was reported by the Associated Press, writes UNN.
Details
The Interlochen Center for the Arts, which runs a summer camp and operates a prestigious performing arts school, commissioned a law firm in 2024 to conduct an independent investigation into reports of sexual assault by teachers and staff. The review was later expanded to include information about Epstein, who was a donor to the institution.
The 97-page report states that investigators received 70 testimonies from alumni about incidents of sexual assault or misconduct by 47 teachers and school staff between the 1950s and 2010s. Most of the described incidents date to before 2000.
The school turned over the investigation results to law enforcement
According to the report, two women reported sexualized behavior by Epstein during their studies. One of them stated that the incident occurred in a building that then bore his name, and also described paid trips to New York. Another reported visiting his home, after which she no longer maintained contact with either Epstein or Ghislaine Maxwell.
The leadership of the Interlochen Center for the Arts stated that it has handed over the names of individuals mentioned in the investigation to law enforcement agencies in Grand Traverse County. The institution also apologized to the victims and stated that the school now has an updated student protection system and has significantly changed its internal safety policies.
The Associated Press notes that at least two former students of the Interlochen Center for the Arts had previously publicly accused Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell of sexual assault. The names of these individuals are not disclosed.