New Department of Justice documents show continued contact between convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein and prominent academics after his convictions, prompting renewed scrutiny across higher education. The DOJ release reinforced that some professors maintained communications with Epstein long after legal issues emerged. Separately, Queen’s University Belfast announced it would remove former U.S. senator George Mitchell’s name from an institute and remove a commemorative bust after material in the files linked Mitchell to appointments and correspondence with Epstein. Institutions are reassessing honors, naming rights and affiliations as they weigh reputational and safeguarding obligations.