The Media Lab Relationship
The MIT Media Lab, founded by Nicholas Negroponte, has been one of the world’s most prestigious technology research institutions, incubating projects at the intersection of technology and human experience.
Joi Ito served as director of the Media Lab from 2011 to 2019. During his tenure, he maintained a secret financial relationship with Jeffrey Epstein.
The Donations
According to reporting by Ronan Farrow in The New Yorker (September 2019):
- Epstein donated approximately $7.5 million to MIT, much of it routed through the Media Lab
- Donations were deliberately structured as “anonymous” donations to conceal their source
- Ito personally received approximately $1.2 million from Epstein for personal investments
- Multiple Media Lab employees knew about the Epstein connection and the deliberate concealment
The Cover-Up
Internal emails revealed by Farrow showed that MIT and Media Lab staff:
- Used code words like “the friend of a friend” to refer to Epstein in communications
- Deliberately kept Epstein’s name off donor lists
- Took steps to ensure Epstein would not appear at MIT events despite his donations
- Were aware this was necessary because Epstein’s convict status would cause problems
Why Ito Accepted the Money
Ito explained that:
- He believed Epstein was interested only in funding research, not gaining personal benefits
- He believed media reporting about Epstein was exaggerated
- He relied on Epstein’s claim that the 2008 conviction was a “technical” offense
Critics noted that Epstein had been convicted of soliciting a minor — not a “technical” violation, and that continued engagement with him was indefensible.
Ito’s Resignation
On September 7, 2019, Joi Ito resigned as MIT Media Lab director. He issued a public apology acknowledging his error in judgment.
MIT’s Investigation
MIT commissioned an independent review conducted by law firm Goodwin Procter. The review found:
- Senior MIT officials including the president’s office knew about Epstein donations
- The concealment of Epstein’s name was intentional
- MIT violated its own policies on restricted gifts and anonymous donations
MIT committed to donating funds received from Epstein to organizations supporting victims of trafficking.