Ohio State President Ted Carter addressed new Epstein-linked allegations against donor Les Wexner, affirmed his innocence, and confirmed a professor’s leave after an assault video, while defending the university’s values and diversity initiatives.

Ohio State University President Ted Carter addressed new revelations linking billionaire Les Wexner to Jeffrey Epstein in unredacted Justice Department files, noting Wexner has not been indicted and is scheduled to be deposed by Congress. Carter acknowledged the seriousness of the allegations but emphasized Wexner’s extensive philanthropy and leadership at the university, stating requests to rename buildings honoring him will follow formal procedures. He rejected former president E. Gordon Gee’s use of “cancel culture” to describe such efforts, saying decisions will be based on facts. Carter also confirmed assistant professor Luke Perez was placed on paid leave after a video showed him assaulting a citizen journalist, calling the act unrepresentative of OSU’s values. He defended the Salmon P. Chase Center, established to promote intellectual diversity across political lines, and declined to comment on whether Gee needs security.