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Newly released investigation documents show a Robert College trustee solicited donations and fundraising guidance from disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein nearly a decade ago, correspondence that surfaced as part of a broader release of Epstein-related files by the US Department of Justice.
Email exchanges dated Nov. 7, 2014, reveal that Landon Thomas Jr., a New York Times journalist serving on Robert College's Board of Trustees, reached out to Epstein describing the Istanbul-based school's mission and seeking philanthropic advice. The correspondence was included in investigative records disclosed Friday that have renewed public scrutiny of Epstein's extensive network of contacts across business, media and academic circles.
In the emails, Thomas Jr. characterized Robert College's educational mission as increasingly vital amid what he described as Türkiye's shifting political landscape. He specifically inquired whether Epstein thought the Gates Foundation might be a suitable donor prospect for the institution, which was marking its 150th anniversary that year.
"In today's Türkiye where influence of conservative Islam is creeping more and more into social life/education system, the mission of RC has never been more important," Thomas Jr. wrote in the correspondence.
The emails show Thomas Jr. emphasizing what he portrayed as an unsupportive governmental environment for the school's educational approach. He told Epstein the institution's board was working to raise the school's profile among potential donors.
Mentioning Türkiye after Daesh developments of the time "is taking a very conservative turn and we on the board are redoubling our efforts to let people know how important RC has become in this environment and under a government that does not think too highly of its mission," Thomas Jr. wrote.
Thomas Jr. noted in the correspondence that Robert College's headmaster would be visiting New York and offered to facilitate a meeting with Epstein. He mentioned his own longstanding connections to the school and Türkiye, noting that his father had previously served on the board and that he himself had lived in the country for years.
Concluding what he termed a "shameless fundraising pitch," Thomas Jr. asked Epstein for suggestions on other foundations or wealthy individuals who might support the school's mission. Epstein's response was brief: "Tell me more when we meet."
Epstein died in a New York City jail cell in August 2019 while awaiting trial on federal sex trafficking charges. He had previously pleaded guilty in Florida in 2008 to procuring a minor for prostitution, receiving a sentence that critics have long characterized as a "sweetheart deal" given the severity of allegations against him.
Victims have alleged Epstein operated an extensive sex trafficking network that involved members of the wealthy and political elite. His case remains politically contentious, with lawmakers and victims' advocates across the political spectrum continuing to demand fuller disclosure about his associates and anyone who may have enabled his crimes.
Robert College, founded in 1863, is one of the oldest American educational institutions outside the United States and has educated numerous prominent Turkish alumni. The school operates as a private, co-educational institution in Istanbul.
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