Nathan Wolfe ’92 denies wrongdoing, expresses regret after Epstein report

Editor’s Note: The Stanford Daily’s team of reporters and editors is currently working to review Department of Justice documents released this weekend for connections between Stanford, Silicon Valley and Jeffrey Epstein. We welcome your confidential tips here or at eic@stanforddaily.com.

Virologist and former Stanford visiting professor Nathan Wolfe ’92 denied any wrongdoing after The Daily reported Tuesday that he planned sexual behavior research with Jeffrey Epstein. Wolfe’s statement to The Daily Wednesday morning sought to contextualize their relationship and acknowledged “overfamiliarity and poor judgment” in his messages.

The statement confirmed that Wolfe “sought funding from a wide range of sources — including, unfortunately, Jeffrey Epstein” for a project “exploring possible microbial influences on sexual behavior.” 

Wolfe previously did not respond to The Daily’s original requests for comment.

The project was based on a “concept developed before meeting Epstein and adjacent to published work” on similar topics, according to the statement.

In his letter, Wolfe also claimed that he “did not fully understand the extent of [Epstein’s] criminal history,” “never visited his island or flew on his plane” and that Epstein did not fund or visit Wolfe’s lab.

“I never witnessed or participated in any misconduct or inappropriate behavior,” Wolfe added.

Epstein and Wolfe, according to the statement, did meet “professionally” at Epstein’s homes in New York and Palm Beach about Wolfe’s research. 

As The Daily previously reported, Wolfe referred to one research study as “our horny virus hypothesis” in a 2023 email to Epstein. 

In his Wednesday statement, Wolfe expressed regret for using the phrase, which he called “inappropriate.” Epstein, he wrote, “flippantly referred to it” using the same phrase.

Wolfe further claimed that “the research was never pursued, and [he] never received any funding from Epstein for this or any other work.”

The University has not responded to The Daily’s request for comment on any awareness of the study and whether Wolfe remains affiliated with Stanford.

The Daily previously reported that Wolfe invited Epstein to a dinner party with “a couple of hottie interns” in 2010. 

“Had I known more at the time, I would have conducted myself very differently,” Wolfe wrote. 

Epstein pled guilty to soliciting underage sex in 2008. Wolfe’s correspondence with Epstein continued well past 2013, including wedding invitations and a baby announcement.

Wolfe wrote that he considered these to be “professional courtesies,” including his decision to acknowledge Epstein in his 2011 book “The Viral Storm.”

“I deeply regret having had any association with someone responsible for such widespread abuse and suffering,” he concluded.

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