Crisis manager Molly McPherson and journalist Greg analyze the Epstein files linking Bard College President Leon Botstein to the financier. A spokesperson's claim that interpreting 2,500 emails mentioning Botstein requires a Ouija board is a deflective tactic that damages trust with students, parents, and donors.
How a crisis manager and a journalist spend their free time. We analyzed problematic media statements. Greg, what's this?
One headline in the Times Union newspaper in Albany, Epstein told assistant to ensure a woman was appropriately dressed for Botstein. Leon Botstein, Bard College president.
Give us some background.
2,500 emails apparently referencing Mr. Botstein in the Epstein files.
Okay, so now, from a crisis management point of view. 2,500. That's a lot of emails. When we start getting into that volume, we're gonna dismiss it, Right?
Right.
Let's hear it.
Maintaining a relationship was strictly for the purpose of getting donations for the college.
Which is another way of saying, I met with him because I want to. What? I'm doing this for the greater good.
Yes.
Of the student body, but meanwhile, he's focused on other bodies.
In reference to the having a person dress nicely for Botstein, a spokesperson says it's impossible to interpret emails. But between Epstein and his assistants. Without a Ouija board.
A Ouija board is a problem because. Do we think the spokesperson confused the line, the cliche, like not being psychic?
Yeah. It's not a decoder. We didn't decode the German secrets in World War II with a Ouija board.
Exactly. Like a Ouija board conjures up spirits. It's like a game from Parker Brothers, and they're trying to use it as snark.
Exactly.
And a distraction. But also, when it's so demeaning like that, when people at the center of the crisis, they want to blame the person or the reporter who has the nerve to inquire.
Right.
So then, anything else? Any other statements?
Well, you know, Botstein had said he was shocked by Epstein's criminal activity, but the Times Union story mentions that there were well wishes sent by Botstein to Epstein just a few weeks after a Miami Herald explosive article detailing terrible allegations.
One more person who's exposed in all of this still engaging in a relationship with Epstein, only knowing the problems behind him and what he was convicted of, right?
It seems that way.
Okay, you're a reporter. What do you do if you find this out?
You keep pouring through the files, and I'm sure people are doing that.
What's his name? Leon. Does he stay?
It seems hard to believe that he can fully survive this. He's been there a long time, and he is, you know, getting up there in years. You know, retirement could be in the offing.
Do the students say anything?
I've only seen headlines. I've seen the word gross in courts. And headlines about student reaction.
He's losing trust. So in my. In my biz of this, as soon as you lose trust with your stakeholders and your. And the students and their parents paying tuition, that's losing trust.
