The Envoy

Despite calling Hunter College a “less than top tier university,” the late financier and convicted sexual predator Jeffrey Epstein wrote the school several tuition checks and was personally invited by organizers to events held at Hunter.

The most recent batch of the “Epstein Files” released by the U.S. Department of Justice in January 30, 2026, pursuant to the Epstein Files Transparency Act, sent shockwaves across many institutions of higher education.

Hunter College, the university in closest proximity to Epstein’s Upper East Side townhouse, was mentioned 123 times, more than any other CUNY institution. 

A mention in the Epstein files does not indicate criminal behavior. 

According to Epstein, “no serious science” comes out of Hunter.

Epstein corresponded with psychiatrist and alleged co-conspirator Henry Jarecki, M.D. frequently. Jarecki, his son Nicholas and other people with the name Jarecki were mentioned 1280 times in the Epstein files as of March 10, 2026. Epstein referred an anonymous model to the psychiatrist for mental health treatment; in 2024 she filed a civil lawsuit accusing Jarecki of raping her dozens of times between 2011 and 2014. She dropped her lawsuit in 2025. 

In September 2010, Epstein wrote to Jarecki, “I would venture to day [sic] that no serious science achievement has come out of hunter college [sic]. . . I think you will find that the odds of discovery at less than top universities and top tier science are super slim.” 

“I know a guy doing impressive work at baruch,” responded Jarecki with the same sloppy punctuation and spelling Epstein used in his emails. “impressive„ ?? [sic]” continued Jarecki. “count the various science prizes over the past twenty years„ how many came out of baruch„ why now.. good students teacher [sic] grad students„ all flock to the same places.”

“Honor Killings,” “Monkey Money,” and “Transexuality”

Robert Trivers, Ph.D. was mentioned 983 times in the Epstein files. An evolutionary biologist and sociobiologist known for developing the theory of reciprocal altruism, he also studied “honor killings” and “transsexuality.” Epstein supported Trivers with research money and a role in Epstein’s foundation.

According to The Chronicle of Higher Education, Rutgers suspended him in 2012 for “violent and threatening behavior.” In 2015 he was fired for refusing to teach an assigned course. 

In an email dated February 6, 2016, Trivers thanked Epstein for “the extra money and appointment as an advisor to your Foundation.” Later, Epstein wrote a check on January 17, 2017 for $30,000 to Trivers. Epstein told Noam Chomsky that he was Trivers’ “major funder.” Epstein and Trivers discussed research projects over several long email chains.

But by March 2019, two months before Epstein was arrested, an email exchange between Trivers and Epstein showed their relationship had frayed. 

Trivers wrote, “after 7 years of continuous support, you seemed to flip, no support at all for past two years nor response to requests.”

Trivers continued, “just wasted two days at Hunter College here in NYC—lecturing and meeting with head of Master’s program and separately Chair of Psych Department, trying to pinch-hit for someone on sabbatical.”

Trivers had pitched studying honor killings to Epstein, but Epstein replied, “I thought that you might want to focus on transgender . people would be interestsesd [sic] and i [sic] would fund. I am a true beileiver [sic] in your talents.”

The “Chair of Psych Department” Trivers mentioned was Christopher Braun, Ph.D., currently the Special Advisor to the President for Science and Associate Provost for Research at Hunter College.

“We met with him out of curiosity, we listened to his seminar.” Said Braun, recalling this interaction to The Envoy, “He was beyond politically incorrect. He was a dinosaur.”

Trivers told Epstein “they loved me but offered me “monkey money”, as we call it in Jamaica.”

Dr. Braun said the “offer” to Trivers was never real. “He was so deluded in this idea that we might offer him a full-time position because he still had some stature in the field at that time.”

Trivers’ email to Epstein continued, “$5500/semseter [sic] —my God, Jeffrey, rent is 8 grand, i would like to eat, have a modest social life and an occasional psychosexual experience—i would return to Jamaica $15,000 in debt. but i [sic] can’t take Jamaica 24/7—will fly to London/Berlin for two weeks early June. can you name a time/date when i [sic] can reach you by phone?”

A year later and only a month before Epstein’s death, Trivers published his long-awaited research on “transgendered belief,” claiming a link between finger length and gender identity. 

The so-called “2D-4D” ratio as an indicator for health predictions has been widely criticized by researchers.

In a 2015 interview with Reuters, Trivers commented about Epstein’s crimes: “By the time they’re 14 or 15, they’re like grown women were 60 years ago, so I don’t see these acts as so heinous.”   

Tuition Payments and Resumes

USA Today reported that at least 28 colleges and universities received tuition checks from Epstein totaling at least $840,000. From 2008 to 2010, the Epstein files reveal seven tuition payments to Hunter College totalling $9,072.20 for people whose names were redacted. USA Today reported that some payments were for the children of celebrities, key associates, or “‘Russian’ or ‘Swedish’ models.” The Envoy has not been able to identify the beneficiaries of Epstein’s tuition payments to Hunter College.

In an email chain from 2010, a person whose name was redacted wrote to Epstein, “So I went by Hunter college and marymount [sic] to talk to them about attending there for fall. Hunter is full and I cant [sic] go unless I take the SATs.” The person seemed to have a close relationship with Epstein. Epstein emailed, “come see me at 5” and the person replied “I hope u arent mad at me . [sic]” Epstein replied, “Of corse [sic]  not” and they replied “Ok . 🙂 i really wanted to see u [sic]”

In an email from 2011, Epstein tells a person with a redacted name “i want you to take more classes.”

The person responded, 

“well i went to my school office they don’t have a different classes that would help progress my english, accept my TOFEL classes ,that i go now . ESL is even lower level , so i decided to go to Hunter College and asked them could i take classes without applying to 1-20 , as my current school will be still NY General Consalting and i will take just extra classes there . They actually have more options what i like but i need a letter from my school that showing they allowed me take extra classes, will try get grow , what do you think?”

Epstein responded, “good idea”

The college also earned some mentions in the Epstein files in resumes submitted on behalf of women to Epstein for potential employment; the resumes noted they had attended Hunter College. 

The Town House

Hunter garnered a mention in the Epstein files as a neighborhood landmark a few blocks from Epstein’s home. The house, called the “Herbert N. Straus House” is a  seven-story, 21,000 square foot townhouse at 9 E 71st St. Ghislaine Maxwell got a parking ticket on 65th St, and Hunter College was mentioned on the map printed on the ticket.

Deepak Chopra, “It’s dangerous when those to [sic] fellas start talking”

Deepak Chopra, M.D. and Epstein or their assistants communicated many times. In an email chain from March, 2018 Chopra’s associate Carolyn Rangel and a redacted Epstein associate discussed an invitation to Epstein to attend a debate held at The Maye Playhouse in Hunter College. 

“Dear Mr. Epstein,

Deepak thought you might enjoy this upcoming event since it’s a different [sic] from the typical invites.”

The event, titled “The More We Evolve, The Less We Need God,” pitted two panelists in favor of the statement and two against.

“In this engaging format, you’ll participate by casting your vote where you stand: For the Motion or Against the Motion,” wrote Rangel. “Please let me know ASAP so I can reserve your VIP tickets.”

“Thank you so much for the invitation,” responded Epstein’s associate. “But Jeffrey will not be in NY on March 27!”

The redacted person then emailed Epstein “okay to RSVP NO… you will be on the island March 27th.”

“yes ok,” responded Epstein. 

But within the email thread, Epstein and Chopra confirmed a meeting in DC. Rangel wrote to the associate, “It’s dangerous when those to [sic] fellas start talking.” 

Chopra was mentioned 4,201 times in the Epstein files.