Michigan Democrats request probe into Epstein’s ties to Interlochen

Lansing — A group of Michigan Democrats has asked the Republican chairman of the state House Oversight Committee to investigate the relationship between sex offender Jeffrey Epstein and the Interlochen Center for the Arts.

In a letter to Oversight Chairman Jay DeBoyer, R-Clay Township, seven Democratic members of his committee cited a trove of documents recently released by the U.S. Department of Justice and allegations that Epstein and his associate, Ghislaine Maxwell, used the northern Michigan arts school to “prey on girls.”

“It is our collective duty to ensure the safety of all children who have attended or will attend Interlochen by investigating these allegations to ascertain whether children attending this esteemed academy were exposed to Jeffrey Epstein, the extent of Interlochen’s awareness and response and how it intends to protect children from sexual predators,” the Democrats’ letter said.

Maureen Oleson, director of communications for the Interlochen Center for the Arts, said the nonprofit organization “has fully cooperated with all requests” related to federal investigations.

“We take these matters very seriously,” Oleson said. “We would respond to any additional inquiries from elected officials or oversight bodies as appropriate and remain committed to transparency.”

The center previously released a statement, saying it had conducted an internal review and found “no record of complaint or concern about Epstein.”

“We are appalled at what we have learned about the scope of conduct by Epstein and his co-conspirators, and we expect that a more comprehensive understanding of the full scope will continue to evolve,” the center’s past statement said.

The center, which is located on 1,200 acres in Grand Traverse County, is home to summer arts camps and what it describes as the “nation’s premier arts boarding high school.” The center’s website says it’s “the global destination for artists and arts enthusiasts of all ages.”

Documents related to Epstein and released by the federal government last year included a lawsuit that claimed he met his first known victim at Interlochen in the 1990s.

Epstein attended Interlochen in the summer of 1967 and was a donor to the organization from 1990 to 2003. His giving included the donation of a cabin on the campus that was referred to as the “Jeffrey E. Epstein Scholarship Lodge,” the House Democrats said in their new letter.

“Documents and survivor accounts appear to show that Epstein utilized the lodge on numerous trips to Interlochen over the 1990s,” the letter said.

In 2019, Epstein died in jail in New York after being charged with sex trafficking.

The Democrats’ letter said the House Oversight Committee should “utilize all necessary powers and processes to examine and investigate the Interlochen Center for the Arts and its relationship with Jeffrey Epstein.”

During a Tuesday House Oversight Committee meeting, DeBoyer acknowledged he had received a letter from Rep. Penelope Tsernoglou, D-East Lansing, and others regarding an investigation request. DeBoyer said there would be a discussion in the coming days about how to move forward.

Later Tuesday, House Speaker Matt Hall, R-Richland Township, said he wasn’t aware of the request and would have to look at it.

Asked by a reporter whether it would be concerning for a pedophile to have a relationship with a school, Hall replied, “I am not familiar with what the subject is. So I’d have to look at it.”

cmauger@detroitnews.com

Staff Writer Sarah Atwood contributed.