UF Presidential Search Committee Member Linked to Epstein Files: Gifts and Documents Raise Ethics Concerns
Gainesville, Florida — January 26, 2026 — Douglas “Doug” Band, a 1995 University of Florida alumnus and current member of the university’s Presidential Search Advisory Committee, is named in nine documents, transcripts, and email chains connected to the Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell cases, according to reporting by The Independent Florida Alligator.
The references span the early 2000s, a period when Epstein’s sex-trafficking operation was active. Court-related materials reveal that between 2002 and 2006, Band received an expensive watch as a Christmas gift purchased by Epstein and Maxwell. Additional documents mention interactions and favors during this timeframe, though no criminal allegations against Band have been made public in connection with these files.
Band, who previously served as counselor to former President Bill Clinton and founded the Teneo consulting firm, was appointed to UF’s advisory committee to help guide the search for the university’s next president following the departure of incumbent leadership. The committee plays a pivotal role in vetting candidates, shaping institutional direction, and ensuring alignment with UF’s academic and public mission.
Ethics experts have weighed in on the implications. Ann Skeet, senior director of leadership ethics at Santa Clara University’s Markkula Center for Applied Ethics, expressed concern about potential conflicts: associations with Epstein and Maxwell—even if non-criminal—could undermine public trust in the search process and raise questions about judgment and influence in higher education governance.
University officials have not issued a detailed public response to the revelations as of this reporting, but the story has ignited debate on campus and across higher-education forums, including Reddit discussions in r/highereducation. Critics argue the connection, however distant or historical, warrants transparency from UF about vetting procedures for advisory roles.
The Epstein document releases—stemming from civil litigation and ongoing federal scrutiny—continue to surface names from politics, business, and academia. While many references involve social or professional proximity rather than wrongdoing, the optics for a public institution like UF are particularly sensitive amid growing calls for accountability in elite networks.
Whether this leads to Band stepping aside, a formal review, or simply renewed scrutiny remains unclear. For now, the episode underscores how past associations, once buried in legal files, can resurface to challenge present-day institutional integrity.
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