Epstein files fallout: Top lawyer Brad Karp resigns from his alma mater's board

• Brad Karp has resigned from Union College's board of trustees.
• This news comes after Karp's resignation as chairman of Big Law firm Paul Weiss earlier this month.
• Karp is one of the elite names that appear in the Epstein files.

Top US lawyer Brad Karp has resigned from Union College's board of trustees as he faces scrutiny over his ties to the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

Karp has been removed from the list of trustees on his alma mater's website, from which he graduated in 1981. Karp could not be reached for immediate comment.

Union College's board chair Julie Greifer Swidler said in a statement to the Union campus community, shared with Business Insider, that Karp has resigned from the board.

"The board and College leadership look forward to continuing our efforts to prepare our outstanding students to lead with wisdom, empathy and courage, while ensuring that Union thrives for decades to come," she said.

Karp's departure from the board follows his resignation as chairman of the Big Law firm Paul Weiss just a week ago.

Karp was among the names to appear in the latest tranche of documents released by the Justice Department in its investigation into Epstein.

"Recent reporting has created a distraction and has placed a focus on me that is not in the best interests of the firm," Karp said in a statement last week, released by law firm Paul Weiss.

"Mr. Karp will continue to focus his full-time attention to client service at the firm," the firm said.

The documents released by the DOJ showed dozens of email exchanges between Karp and Epstein. This included Karp reviewing a court filing that Epstein was preparing to oppose efforts to reopen his 2008 sex-crime plea deal with Florida prosecutors.

"The draft motion is in great shape. It's overwhelmingly persuasive. Truly," Karp wrote in an email to Epstein. "I particularly liked the argument that the 'victims' lied in wait and sat on their rights for their strategic advantage, knowing you were in prison, before they came forward."

A Paul Weiss spokesperson said in a statement, reported by Reuters, that Karp initially met Epstein through one of the firm's clients, Apollo CEO Leon Black.

"During the course of that representation, which spanned several years, Mr. Karp never witnessed or participated in any misconduct," the company said.

"Mr. Karp attended two group dinners in New York City and had a small number of social interactions by email, all of which he regrets," they added.