The U.S. Department of Justice released approximately three million pages of documents on Jan. 30 related to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Of these documents, Florida Atlantic University is mentioned in 24 separate files, via the Department of Justice’s “Epstein Library.” 

A review of these documents shows that the name “Florida Atlantic University” appears in various court documents, interviews, and background materials, including those involving anonymous plaintiffs.

Florida Atlantic University students

Several of the files in the DOJ’s Epstein library include interviews with the Federal Bureau of Investigation from 2007, identifying student(s) who attended FAU between 2005-2007.

One file details an FBI interview in which the interviewee was described as currently attending FAU in 2007. In this document, multiple identities are largely redacted, making it unclear who is involved.

In the interview, the alleged abuse of an FAU student happened at Epstein’s private estate in the town of Palm Beach, Fla., where interviewees were invited to perform “massages” for Epstein for financial compensation that became sexual in nature. 

“From Spring 2005 to Fall 2005, [redacted] provided approximately 5-10 massages for Epstein at his Palm Beach residence,” according to the FBI interview. The document continues with details of the interviewee’s interactions with Epstein and employees at his residence.

“[Redacted] was paid $200.00 for the first two clothed massages. [Redacted] believed he paid her $300.00 for the third clothed massage because it occurred near her birthday. [Redacted] was paid $300.00 for each of approximately two or three massages she provided, wearing her bra and panties.[Redacted] stopped going to Epstein’s residence when he became the subject of a police investigation,” as stated in the document. 

A related FBI document appears to correspond to the same interview. In an earlier version on the website, the interviewee’s name was fully redacted; in a later version, part of the name, “Murphy,” is visible. A subsequent document also reveals the name of the interviewee’s boyfriend, Brian Landsman, whose identity was previously redacted in the earlier document.

Lisa Metcalf, a university spokesperson, wrote in an email to the University Press, “The crimes of Jeffrey Epstein are devastating and far-reaching, and we were shocked and saddened to learn that a member of the FAU community had been victimized.”

Epstein’s Conviction 

Palm Beach police began investigating Epstein in March 2005, which then led to his first arrest in July 2006 on a single count of soliciting prostitution.

In June of 2008, Epstein became a convicted sex offender after pleading guilty to one count of soliciting prostitution and one count of soliciting prostitution from someone under the age of 18. Law enforcement personnel arrested Epstein in 2019 on federal charges.

Michael Reiter is an FAU alumnus who served as the Palm Beach Chief of Police from 2001-2009, and led the department during its investigation of Epstein. 

PBPD was the only law enforcement agency to successfully investigate Epstein. Epstein died in federal prison by suicide in 2019, according to government personnel.

Pine Jog

An additional document in the DOJ’s Epstein library shows an email requesting donations from Epstein to support one of FAU’s education centers in 2014.

An email from Charles Bane Jr. to Epstein asks Epstein for a donation to be made in the name of FAU’s Pine Jog Environmental Education Center, located in Palm Beach County. It’s unclear what Bane’s ties to Epstein are, and he is not affiliated with the university.

In this email, Bane asks Epstein to make a $25,000 contribution to Pine Jog’s 2014 annual fundraising event, the Green Gala. In return, Epstein would be listed as the exclusive sponsor of the gala, with a “detailed biography of yourself and your impact on education, and neurological and evolutionary science” outlined in the program.

“Tax-deductible checks should be made payable to the Florida Atlantic University Foundation and forwarded to: Mr. Ray Coleman, Executive Director, Pine Jog Environmental Education Center,” as stated in the email. FAU’s website still lists Coleman as the center’s director.

Metcalf additionally told the University Press, “We were disappointed to learn that, 13 years ago, someone associated with Pine Jog Environmental Education Center, which is an auxiliary of the university, contacted Jeffrey Epstein about a fundraising initiative. We have no records of this individual ever being an employee. No current employees were involved, and Florida Atlantic did not receive any funding from him.”

Other files

Many of the files that mention FAU are court documents brought by Epstein’s victims, stating that FAU obtained records concerning the plaintiffs, who are either referred to as Jane Doe or by the acronym “CMA.” Epstein’s legal counsel sought the records held by the university.

Additionally, FAU is mentioned in multiple resumes in Epstein’s records, including Heather Schueler’s and Paul Raeburn, who graduated from FAU, and an obituary for Harry Loy Anderson, who died in 2013. Anderson earned his bachelor’s degree from FAU and served in an advisory or board role at the university.

Epstein’s records list a file on Amber Krembs. It does not specify the nature of her involvement with Epstein, but it notes she was a student at FAU during 2005-2007. 

While some individuals who cooperated with investigators studied at FAU, nowhere in these files does it mention any abuse by Epstein happening on any of FAU’s campuses. 

Ava Hilton is the News Editor for the University Press. For information regarding this or other stories, email [email protected] or direct message Hilton on Instagram @a.vahilton10.