Newly released legal documents have unveiled a $15,000 donation from the late financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein to filmmaker Woody Allen's daughter's exclusive private school, intended to guarantee her graduation. The files, disclosed by the Justice Department and reviewed by the Daily Mail, expose a direct conversation between Allen, 90, and Epstein regarding the financial contribution to The Hewitt School, an all-girls K-12 institution on Manhattan's Upper East Side where annual tuition currently stands at $67,700.
Securing a Diploma Through Financial Support
At approximately 5:30 PM on December 14, Allen messaged Epstein with specific instructions: 'Please give the entire 15 to Hewitt.' He elaborated, 'As Woody said, that way they will definitely graduate Manzie.' Manzie, Allen's adopted daughter, was 16 years old at the time and enrolled at the prestigious school. Hours later, around 11 PM, Allen confirmed receipt of the funds, expressing gratitude in a follow-up message: 'I just got home and found the contribution. You’re the best. It made my day. I can’t thank you enough. The schools never have enough money. This will help them with their expansion.'
School's Response and Additional Epstein Donations
In 2019, The Hewitt School, which has about 500 students, acknowledged receiving the donation but informed the Associated Press that it was returned upon discovering its link to Epstein. The connection between Epstein and the school was previously ambiguous, but the latest emails clarify Allen's active role in soliciting the contribution. Manzie ultimately graduated from the institution in 2018. The documents also highlight other substantial donations from Epstein around the same period, including $35,000 to the Junior Tennis Champions Center in College Park, Maryland, and $25,000 to the Ecole du Bel-Air grade school in Haiti.
Broader Connections and College Admissions Influence
The files further detail Allen's associations with Epstein, extending to efforts involving his other daughter, Bechet. Emails reveal that Leon Botstein, President of Bard College and a longtime acquaintance of Epstein, assisted Bechet in gaining admission to the private liberal arts college. At the time, Bechet was a student at Brearley, another private K-12 school. Allen expressed appreciation in a message: 'I can’t thank you enough for getting Bechet into Bard.' He added a strategic note, suggesting it would be 'best that Bechet struggles' and remained unaware of Epstein's involvement to enhance her desire to attend.
According to the documents, Allen stated, 'I think it’s best that Bechet struggles and doesn’t know ahead of time that she got in so that when she gets into Bard she will have sweated it out a bit and will really want to go.' In response, Botstein issued a statement to the New York Times, dismissing Epstein's influence and asserting, 'The applicant referenced in the emails was accepted on the merits of her own qualifications for admission. Bard had already provided a welcome community for two previous family members, and no introduction was needed from the likes of Epstein.'
Longstanding Friendship and Filmmaking Ties
Allen and Epstein's friendship was well-documented, with the filmmaker and his wife, Soon-Yi Previn, frequently visiting Epstein's Manhattan residence, as reported by the NYT. Additionally, recently released documents expose Epstein's involvement in Allen's filmmaking endeavors. In one instance, Epstein contacted a photographer, inquiring, 'woody allen is looking for a beautiful =0-24 girl to play a college girl in a comedy. thoughts?' This revelation underscores the depth of their professional and personal connections, adding another layer to the complex narrative surrounding Epstein's network and influence.
