[derivagral]

The primary difference is that the MIT institution took money from him despite being internally barred from doing so. As you mention, at least Harvard did this before the original trial.

As far as your last comment, there's been a lot of historic and present discussion around exactly that blend of science/ethics (WW2, milgram, etc.)

[asciident]

Just wanted you to know that what you said is known to be false, "the MIT institution took money from him despite being internally barred from doing so"

See http://news.mit.edu/2019/letter-preliminary-facts-0912

"when members of [the MIT president's] senior team learned that the Media Lab had received the first of the Epstein gifts, they reached out to speak with Joi Ito. He asked for permission to retain this initial gift, and members of my senior team allowed it."