FOIA Documents Reveal University of Arizona Coordinated $50,000 Jeffrey Epstein Donation, Contradicting Prior Claims

Newly released emails obtained through public records requests show that the University of Arizona directly coordinated a $50,000 donation from convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, including offers to book him a hotel in Tucson and assistance in rerouting the funds for tax purposes. 

The documents, published February 2, 2026, by FOIAzona, contradict earlier university statements describing the 2017 gift as a “one-time anonymous gift” in which “the university was unaware of his involvement.” 

Reporting in 2019 from The Daily Beast quoted Chris Sigurdson, UA’s vice president for communications, who called the donation “a one-time anonymous gift.” Later, UA associate vice president of external communications Pam Scott told The Arizona Republic, “At the time the donation was made by Gratitude America Ltd., Jeffrey Epstein was not listed on the board of directors and the university was unaware of his involvement,” adding, “We have no plans to repay this contribution.”

Records uncovered by FOIAzona, and shared by journalist Brian Anderson, however, show university representatives directed the funds to the University of Arizona Foundation and received a check in a FedEx package clearly labeled “JEFFREY EPSTEIN.” 

.@UArizona told @azcentral it was "a one-time anonymous gift" & "the university was unaware of his involvement"

In reality, UA reps directed the $50K to the university's foundation & received the check in a FedEx package labeled "JEFFREY EPSTEIN" (2/3)https://t.co/UktOwPI8wH pic.twitter.com/Wu1bbfbgcV

— Brian Anderson (@AZBrianAnderson) February 2, 2026

The donation was reportedly facilitated by Stuart Hameroff, an anesthesiologist and director of the university’s Center for Consciousness Studies. A 2016 email from Hameroff to Epstein thanks him for dinner, use of his Upper East Side apartment in New York, and a “memorable night.” 

The professor who secured the donation for @UArizona was close enough that Epstein allowed him to stay at his apartment on the Upper East Side & had "a memorable night" of dinner together.

Will @UArizona continue to claim ignorance here? (3/3)https://t.co/ITFAjMAooB pic.twitter.com/fe3pBS1c8g

— Brian Anderson (@AZBrianAnderson) February 2, 2026

According to the outlet, Epstein, whom FOIAzona characterizes as having an existing relationship with Hameroff, donated “at least 50k, before knowing any[t]hing” and requested additional information about the program’s budget and lineup. Hameroff then thanked Epstein in the uncovered emails, “cop[ied] [his] assistant Abi Behar-Montefiore” and asked how Epstein would prefer “to be recognized.”

On February 3, 2026, Hameroff posted on X: “I deeply regret interacting with Jeffrey Epstein in 2017 and strongly condemn his awful activities. He offered to help financially with a conference problem and I accepted. Nothing more. I have apologized to my colleagues at the University of Arizona, and do so to everyone for my shameful behavior.”

I deeply regret interacting with Jeffrey Epstein in 2017 and strongly condemn his awful activities. He offered to help financially with a conference problem and I accepted. Nothing more. I have apologized to my colleagues at the University of Arizona, and do so to everyone for my… https://t.co/a4FgBL4vDz

— Stuart Hameroff (@StuartHameroff) February 3, 2026

In a series of earlier emails, the outlet described that “the University of Arizona’s relationship with Epstein was not limited to that $50,000 donation,” adding that the relationship dated back to at least 2015. The exposé goes on to cite exchanges between Epstein and the head of Apollo Global Management, and CEO Leon Black’s family office discussing whether “the [U]niversity of [A]rizona letter [went] out,” as well as, Epstein’s executive assistant Lesley Groff confirming the availability of Epstein’s apartment for Hameroff to stay in for five days in October 2016. In the emails, Hameroff reportedly responded that he and his partner would “go directly to the apartment, freshen up and then to Jeffrey’s place.”

As of this report, the University of Arizona has not issued a new public statement addressing the newly released records.