Allegations Surface Against Jeffrey Epstein and Others at Michigan Arts School
Two individuals who attended a prominent Michigan arts school have accused Jeffrey Epstein, a significant donor, of sexual misconduct. This is part of an investigation revealing allegations spanning decades against nearly 50 individuals.
The Interlochen Center for the Arts, known for its summer camp and performing arts school attracting global students, hired a law firm in 2024. The investigation aimed at uncovering sexual abuse by faculty and staff, later extending to include Epstein, the financier who died in prison in 2019.
Interlochen removed Epstein’s name from a lodge after his 2008 conviction for sex offenses in Florida. The building, renamed Green Lake Lodge, was recently demolished following the release of extensive documents by the Department of Justice.
Sanghavi Law Office collected 70 testimonies from alumni alleging “physical sexual conduct” by 47 faculty and staff members linked to Interlochen from the 1950s to the 2010s. Most allegations occurred before 2000.
The investigative report described the gathered information as ‘devastating,’ noting alumni reported grooming, flirting, sexual touching, and intercourse.
Interlochen has shared the names of the accused with authorities in Grand Traverse County, northern Michigan, to assess possible actions. None of the accused presently work there, and over a third have passed away.
In a letter, institution president Trey Davey and board director Barrett Rollins expressed deep regret over the harm experienced by community members. They offered apologies to those affected by the abuse at Interlochen.
They acknowledged that while most incidents happened decades ago, the passage of time doesn’t diminish the experiences of alumni. “Sexual abuse by an adult in a position of power against a student was wrong, then and now.” Today, they assert, Interlochen is “fundamentally different from the institution described in this report,” with comprehensive safety policies and a transformed culture.
Epstein, who played the bassoon, attended Interlochen as a camper in 1967. He donated over $400,000 to the school between 1990 and 2003.
Two women informed investigators of Epstein’s sexual misconduct, one incidentally occurring in the Interlochen lodge bearing his name. The report mentions he touched her “over her clothing in a way suggesting it was accidental.” He also paid for her to visit New York as a student, during which she described freezing whenever he acted improperly until he stopped.
The other woman reported giving Epstein a massage at his home, suspecting he asked her to remove her top. She never contacted Epstein or his partner, Ghislaine Maxwell, again.
Apart from this investigation, at least two Interlochen alumni accused Epstein and Maxwell of grooming and abuse, as documented in federal records and media reports. Their identities remain undisclosed. One testified against Maxwell in 2021, leading to her conviction for sex trafficking. It’s unclear if these women participated in Interlochen’s investigation.
This article was translated from English by an AP editor using generative AI.