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Brad Karp, a member of the Union College Board of Trustees, has resigned from his position after his name appeared in recently released Jeffrey Epstein investigation files.
Karp, a 1981 graduate of the Schenectady institution who joined the Board of Trustees in 2019, stepped down following revelations of his communications with the convicted sex offender. The resignation was confirmed in a brief statement from Board chair Julie Greifer Swidler on Monday, according to Spectrum News.
The decision comes just days after Karp also resigned as chairman of prestigious law firm Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison, where he had served since 2008. In a company statement announcing his departure, Karp said: "Recent reporting has created a distraction and has placed focus on me that is not in the best interests of the firm." He will continue working at the firm where he has practiced for 40 years.
The Department of Justice recently released its largest batch of documents from the Epstein investigation, revealing numerous email exchanges between Karp and Epstein. According to BBC reporting, the correspondence included discussions about Epstein's plea deal on sex trafficking charges and requests for personal favors.
In one 2015 email, Karp thanked Epstein for hosting what he called a "once in a lifetime" evening that he would "never forget." Other exchanges showed Karp seeking Epstein's help to secure a role for his son on a Woody Allen film production and requesting assistance for high-profile clients.
Paul Weiss has previously stated that while Karp knew Epstein, "Mr. Karp never witnessed or participated in any misconduct." The firm added that Karp "attended two group dinners in New York City and had a small number of social interactions by email, all of which he regrets."
Epstein was arrested in July 2019 on sex trafficking charges and was found dead in his New York jail cell the following month. The ongoing release of investigation files has implicated numerous powerful figures who had connections to Epstein, leading to several high-profile resignations and public apologies.
Neither Union College nor Karp have provided additional comments regarding the resignation from the Board of Trustees.