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Two MSO board members resign over personal scandals
Two Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra board members have resigned, both facing personal scandals. One of the former board members has ties to Jeffrey Epstein and the other is defending against charges of child sexual assault.
MILWAUKEE - Two Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra board members have resigned, after FOX6 reported both were facing personal scandals.
One of the former board members has ties to Jeffrey Epstein and the other is defending against charges of child sexual assault.
FOX6 asked the symphony for a response on Monday, Feb. 9, and again Thursday.
What they're saying:
On Friday, Feb. 13, the MSO sent this statement:
"The Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra has accepted the resignations of Mr. Hobbs and Mr. Mahler. These matters are unrelated to the MSO or their board service. We thank them for their contributions to the organization."
On Monday, both names appeared on the symphony's website when FOX6 first reported the story. Now, the names are scrubbed.
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Epstein, assault charges; Milwaukee Symphony board members tied to scandals
Two Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra board members are under scrutiny in unrelated matters, including past recruiting ties to Jeffrey Epstein and separate sexual assault charges filed in Green Lake County.
Eric Hobbs
What we know:
The first is Eric Hobbs.
Last year, prosecutors in Green Lake County charged him with sexual assault.
They alleged he inappropriately touched teen girls in 2019, 2021 and 2023.
Prosecutors filed the charges more than 10 months ago, but it wasn’t until after FOX6's story ran on Monday that the MSO removed his name from their list of board members.
Hobbs' attorney did respond to FOX6 on Monday.
She said, "Mr. Hobbs denies these allegations. The allegations are entirely separate from his volunteer work with the symphony board. We look forward to clearing his name."
Peter Mahler
What we know:
The other person who resigned is Peter Mahler.
The Epstein files show Mahler worked as a recruiter for Epstein in 2013 when Epstein was looking for an assistant.
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Mahler told FOX6 the allegations against Epstein are "abhorrent" and knowing what they know now, they wouldn't have worked with him.
Again, these scandals are not tied with either person's work on the board.
The symphony board had 35 members. They have oversight over the nonprofit.
Many of the members are dignitaries in Milwaukee business or education.
Now, that board has two fewer members.
The Source: This story was produced by FOX6 with new information from the MSO, along with prior reporting based on the Epstein files, criminal complaint and information from the MSO.