A gynecologist at Ohio State University whose name appeared in the Epstein files as having received thousands of dollars in payments from the convicted sex offender for consulting work is being investigated by the university, an official there confirmed Friday.
Dr. Mark Landon is cooperating with the investigation, Serena Smith, a spokesperson for OSU’s Wexner Medical Center, said in an email.
Landon “has stated he had no knowledge of any criminal activities and his consulting work did not involve any patient care,” Smith said.
“We continue to review the situation and have received no information to date that contradicts Dr. Landon’s statement,” Smith said.
Landon, who chairs OSU’s Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology and specializes in high-risk pregnancies, released a statement on Monday after his name was found in the files.
“I did not provide any clinical care for Jeffrey Epstein or any of his victims,” it said. “I was a paid consultant for the New York Strategy Group regarding potential biotech investments from 2001 to 2005. I had no knowledge of any criminal activities; I find them reprehensible and I feel terrible for Epstein’s victims.”
The New York Strategy Group was Epstein’s money management firm, records show.
Landon’s consulting work for Epstein’s firm was before the financier was branded a registered sex offender in 2008, following a conviction in Florida for procuring a child for prostitution and soliciting a prostitute.
In the files, the doctor’s name appears in a 2006 email written to Epstein by Darren Indyke, an attorney who worked for him.
“Are we still paying Mark Landon?” it began.
Indyke wrote that “Landon’s agreement requires quarterly payments of $30k to be made to Landon on the 15th of January, April, July and October.”
“The previous payment made to Landon was for $25,000 and not $30,000. The contract is terminable at will on 15 days’ prior notice. Is NYSG to make payment to Landon by January 15th and if so for $25K or $30K? Please advise.”
“75 per year,” Epstein responded.
The email did not specify what work Landon was paid for.
There are also multiple FedEx receipts in the files for packages sent to Landon at the Wexner Medical Center between 2001 and 2004. They do not indicate what was sent in the packages.
NBC News has reached out to Indyke for comment.
This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
