Secret Epstein Payments To University Gynaecology Chair Trigger Ethical Uproar
Previously unpublished documents from the US Department of Justice show that convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein's financial network included regular payments to a senior obstetrics and gynaecology figure tied to Ohio State University. The newly surfaced files reveal quarterly payments of $25,000 (£20,000) to Dr Mark Landon, who served as Chair of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at the Ohio State University Wexner Medical Centre in the early 2000s, raising pressing questions about institutional ethics and transparency.Documents released under federal transparency initiatives reveal a memo and several correspondences directly referencing scheduled payments to Landon from 2001 through 2005, though the contracts don't specify the work performed for the New York Strategy Group, Epstein's financial firm. The records include internal email threads discussing whether quarterly instalments should be $30,000 or the previously paid $25,000, with one exchange showing Epstein himself discussing the arrangement and referring to an annual total of $75,000 (£60,000).Financial Ties Revealed in Government RecordsThe most illuminating evidence is a 2006 email exchange between Epstein and his lawyer, Darren Indyke, discussing the payment structure to Landon and variations in amounts. Indyke notes the retainer requires quarterly disbursements, but the precise basis isn't set out in released documents. The DOJ files also contain FedEx receipts showing regular shipments addressed to Landon over several years, though the contents remain unspecified.These details emerged amid the release of tens of thousands of prosecution records, partly due to the Epstein Files Transparency Act, a federal law passed in 2025 that required the disclosure of Epstein-related documents held by the Department of Justice. The payments were made concurrently with Epstein's known activities as a financier, philanthropist, and later convicted sex trafficker, although no criminal charge has been publicly brought against Landon for his involvement or receipt of these funds.
Institutional Responses and Historical TiesDr Mark Landon issued a statement through the Ohio State University Wexner Medical Centre, asserting he didn't provide any direct clinical care for Epstein or his clients and denied knowledge of illegal activity within Epstein's network. Landon said he'd been engaged as a paid consultant for the New York Strategy Group on biotech investments from 2001 to 2005 and expressed regret for the suffering of Epstein's known victims.Ohio State has previously acknowledged financial links to Epstein through donations made decades earlier, including a $2.5 million (£2 million) foundation gift that helped name the university's football complex, though these were distinct from direct payments to Landon. In a detailed review, the university found $336,000 (£270,000) in direct contributions, which it subsequently donated to a human trafficking initiative. However, that review was limited to structured gifts, not outside consulting or personal payments to faculty, and didn't address these newly released retainer payments.
Ethical and Legal QuestionsWhile sums paid to Dr Landon appear smaller than those in other parts of Epstein's financial network, payments to a sitting chair of a major university medical department significantly deepen scrutiny over Epstein's reach into institutional America. Experts in institutional ethics note that even lawful consulting arrangements with controversial figures can raise issues for universities and medical centres that rely on public trust and research funding.The lack of clear documentation about the retainer's purpose or deliverables leaves unanswered questions about oversight. Ohio State's historical review didn't extend to outside consulting or personal payments to faculty, meaning these structured, regular payments tied directly to Epstein's financial apparatus went unexamined until now. Commentators on social media and public petitions have seized on the disclosures, with critics arguing Ohio State should reconsider Landon's professional standing given his historical financial link, while defenders emphasise no criminal wrongdoing has been alleged against him.
Broader Context and Ongoing Revelations
Analysts say the Landon revelations underline the complexity and breadth of Epstein's network. Epstein maintained longstanding ties with Les Wexner, Columbus-area billionaire and major Ohio State donor, and those ties are referenced in communications within the wider file releases.As document releases continue under the transparency law, scholars and watchdog groups expect more files to surface that further illuminate the financier's reach into academic, financial, and social elite circles. Federal lawmakers have pushed for even greater transparency around Epstein-related documents, arguing the public deserves clarity about how criminal networks intersect with powerful institutions. The Epstein Files Transparency Act was enacted unanimously by US Congress and signed into law in November 2025 to ensure more comprehensive access to these documents.
