Columbia University fessed up Wednesday to its dental school's involvement in an admissions scandal involving Jeffrey Epstein's former girlfriend.
Documents recently released by President Donald Trump's Department of Justice revealed that a student linked to the disgraced financier was admitted through an "irregular process."
"In 2019, Columbia University became aware of past communications between Jeffrey Epstein and individuals affiliated at the time with the University’s dental school, most of whom are no longer associated with Columbia. Material recently released by the U.S. Department of Justice contains additional communications, adding to what was previously known," the school said in a news release.
Dental school leadership at the time orchestrated the improper admission while simultaneously asking Epstein for money.
"In short, a student was admitted to the dental school through an irregular process, coinciding with fundraising solicitations by former academic and alumni leadership of the school. The fundraising discussions were undertaken by the then leadership of the dental school or individuals acting at their behest and not at the direction of the leadership of the medical center or the University," the school added.
Columbia brass admitted the admissions process "does not meet Columbia's standards for integrity and independence." The Ivy League university said it moved swiftly to clean house, removing administrators still connected to the scandal from their roles. That includes Dr. Thomas Magnani, who was stripped of his admissions committee seat and volunteer positions, while Dr. Letty Moss-Salentijn stepped down from administrative duties.
The student in question graduated and hasn't faced wrongdoing accusations.
Columbia found $210,000 in Epstein-related donations and committed to donating $105,000 each to GEMS and Joyful Heart, organizations supporting abuse survivors. The university vowed a full review of dental school admissions to prevent future corruption.
The student was identified by The New York Times as Epstein’s girlfriend Karyna Shuliak.
Shuliak wanted to attend Columbia's dental school in 2012 but was rejected.
"Then, Mr. Epstein pulled some strings, and some of the school’s most important people helped her get in, files from the Department of Justice show," the Times reported.
