The University of California, San Diego has announced it will end its affiliation with bestselling author Deepak Chopra following reports detailing his close relationship with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, according to a statement released by the school on Friday. The decision comes after CNN reported on the extensive correspondence between Chopra and Epstein revealed in recently released Justice Department files.
UCSD stated that Chopra’s current appointment as a Voluntary Clinical Professor in the School of Medicine’s Department of Family Medicine will conclude on June 30, 2026. “While we are not able to comment further on personnel matters, the crimes Jeffrey Epstein committed were horrific and any association with him is regrettable,” the university said.
The Justice Department released millions of files related to Epstein in January, prompting scrutiny of individuals connected to the financier. A review of the “Epstein Library” by CNN revealed hundreds of messages exchanged between Chopra and Epstein between 2016 and 2019, the year Epstein was arrested on sex-trafficking charges. The communications included discussions of a variety of topics, and invitations to Chopra’s speaking events, according to reports.
Chopra acknowledged the surfacing of the emails earlier this month, stating on X, formerly known as Twitter, that he was “never involved in, nor did I participate in, any criminal or exploitative conduct.” He added that any contact he had with Epstein was “limited and unrelated to abusive activity.” He too stated he was “deeply saddened by the suffering of the victims in this case.”
When approached for comment about his relationship with Epstein, Chopra reportedly stated, “No misconduct,” according to CNN. However, the released files show a more frequent and intimate connection than previously acknowledged. The records reveal sustained communication over several years, as well as in-person interactions at properties owned or used by Epstein in New York, Florida, and Paris.
According to a report by USA Today, Chopra’s name appears thousands of times within the released Justice Department files. One email from February 2017, reviewed by multiple news outlets, showed Chopra inviting Epstein on a trip to Israel, writing, “If you want employ a fake name . Bring your girls.” Chopra later extended another invitation to Epstein and his “girls” in a November 2017 email, as reported by Firstpost.
The nature of Chopra’s relationship with Epstein has prompted the University of California, San Diego to sever ties, marking a swift response to the revelations contained within the Epstein files. The university has not provided further comment on the matter.
