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Thursday, Febuary 5, 2026
VOLUME XCIII, ISSUE 2
NEW FILES SHOW STEVE TISCH’S TIES TO EPSTEIN EPSTEIN SCOUTED SEVERAL WOMEN FOR TISCH TO MEET
Evan Vezmar and Julian Glickman
Deputy News Editor and Executive News Editor
Steve Tisch, a Tufts alumnus and donor whose name appears on several campus buildings, was revealed last Friday to have communicated frequently with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein about women, dinner invitations, football games and Epstein’s private island. More than 3 million files were released by the Department of Justice on Friday under the Epstein Files Transparency Act, which Congress passed in November. The Daily reviewed hundreds of those files and found dozens of email correspondences between Tisch — a film producer and owner of the New York Giants — and
KAITLYN WELLS / THE TUFTS DAILY
The Steve Tisch Sports and Fitness Center is pictured on Nov. 12, 2024. Epstein. The identities and ages of most of the women discussed were not immediately clear, though some were identified as
college-age. Tisch has not been charged with any wrongdoing. “We’re continuing to monitor this matter and any unfold-
ing information,” Patrick Collins, executive director of media relations at Tufts, said in a statement to the Daily.
Roger Goodell, commissioner of the National Football League, said at a Monday press conference that the league would look into Tisch’s connections with Epstein. It was not clear whether a formal investigation had been launched. In a public statement released by the Giants on Friday night, Tisch distanced himself from Epstein. “We had a brief association where we exchanged emails about adult women, and in addition, we discussed movies, philanthropy, and investments,” Tisch wrote. “I did not take him up on any of his invitations and never went to his island. As we all know now, he was a terrible person and someone I deeply regret associating with.” see TISCH, page 3
Local and state officials push back against federal immigration enforcement efforts Katherine Kelton
Assistant News Editor
Elected officials in Medford and Somerville, as well as state leaders across Massachusetts, are ramping up efforts to curb the effects of Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s presence in the state. On Jan. 13, state representative Erika Uyterhoeven of Somerville took to social media demanding ICE get “the f--- out of Massachusetts.” The viral video, which currently has more than 39,000 views, echoes language from Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey in response to the shooting of Renee Good and calls on state leaders to cut ties with ICE, curb surveillance practices and hold federal agents accountable under state law. “We can define by state law what is illegal and not illegal [through] civil and criminal penalties,” Uyterhoeven told the Daily. “There are things we can do, especially around ICE officers failing to identify themselves or with respect to mask bans.”
RACHEL LIU / THE TUFTS DAILY
The Massachusetts State House is pictured on May 10, 2024. As efforts to block immigration enforcement operations gain steam, experts say that state and local governments have tools at their disposal. Matthew Segal, a professor of the practice in the Department of Political Science, explained that
states and municipalities have the right to withhold surveillance-related information from the federal government. For example, if Massachusetts passed a bill restricting surveillance within the state, it could refuse federal inquiries about specific individuals.
“There are circumstances in which — whether it’s surveillance or providing information or taking someone into custody — the federal government might ask the state and local governments for a favor, essentially,” Segal said. And the state
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and local governments’ answer might be ‘No, we won’t help you,’ or ‘No, we can’t help you, because the law or the constitution of our state forbids us from helping you.’” Uyterhoeven said that the Shield Act 2.0, which prohibits state law enforcement and agencies from cooperating with federal or out-of-state investigations into legally protected healthcare provided in Massachusetts, was a step in the right direction. Gov. Maura Healey signed the law last year. “I’m very proud of that law,” Uyterhoeven said. “But I think it was very limited because it only pertains to surveillance with respect to reproductive justice and gender-affirming care.” Uyterhoeven said her goal is to create legislation that legally protects the immigration status of Massachusetts residents. She added, however, that such laws will only be effective if offenders are held accountable.
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