In the world of academic research, allegiance is typically given to groundbreaking ideas and scientific discovery. However, a disturbing series of newly publicized emails reveals a prominent professor at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) pledged his personal loyalty to the convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, even after learning of his serious crimes.
"Boys from The Bronx": Emails Reveal Troubling Bond
According to documents released by the U.S. Department of Justice, Professor Mark Tramo, a neuroscience professor at UCLA, sent a message expressing unwavering support to Epstein. This communication was sent after Tramo read media reports in 2006-2007 that the financier was preparing to plead guilty to soliciting prostitution from a minor.
In the email, Tramo framed their connection through a shared background, referring to them as "boys from The Bronx." He wrote, "Please remind him that boys from The Bronx (even if they end up at Harvard) have long memories, know all about cops, and stay true to their friends through thick and thin (no less peccadilloes)." This suggests the professor viewed the scandal as a minor misstep among friends.
Financial Links and Continued Contact
The email trail indicates the relationship extended beyond personal loyalty. Records show that the Institute for Music and Brain Science, which was founded by Professor Tramo, received grants from the Jeffrey Epstein VI Foundation between 2010 and 2012. A UCLA spokesperson told campus media they had no records of gifts from that specific foundation.
Furthermore, contact appears to have continued years later. In a 2018 email, Tramo offered to analyze a meeting between Kanye West and then-President Donald Trump for Epstein, "given your interest in creativity." Epstein was arrested in July 2019 on federal charges of sex trafficking of minors and conspiracy. He died in jail two months later.
Denials and Mixed Reactions from Campus
In a statement to the Harvard Crimson, Professor Tramo denied full knowledge of Epstein's conduct at the time of his initial guilty plea. He claimed he was "duped to believe" the offences were minor and stated, "I never visited Epstein’s island, never flew on his planes, and never saw him with young girls."
Reactions from the UCLA student body have been mixed. One anonymous student criticized the professor's ongoing contact, saying, "You can’t say that you didn’t know what was going on if then you’re still contacting him past his initial arrest." Another student, Grace Wang, who took Tramo's class, suggested the emails might not indicate a deep connection, noting the professor seemed eager to email anyone of "even remote interest to him."
The documents are part of a massive trove released under a bipartisan mandate. They include FBI files and court records, though many sections remain heavily redacted to protect victims' identities. The U.S. Deputy Attorney General confirmed that teams reviewed hundreds of thousands of pages to determine legal disclosure, with more material expected in the coming weeks.
