In a surprising development, Larry Summers, former Treasury Secretary and a prominent figure at Harvard University, is stepping back from his teaching duties. This decision follows the emergence of emails linking him to Jeffrey Epstein, the notorious financier and sex offender.
A spokesperson for Summers confirmed, “His co-teachers will complete the remaining three class sessions of the courses he has been teaching with them this semester, and he is not scheduled to teach next semester.” Additionally, Summers will be on leave from directing the Mossavar-Rahmani Center for Business and Government at Harvard Kennedy School during the university’s review process.
Summers, who has been part of Harvard’s economics faculty, expressed profound regret in a statement: “I was deeply ashamed of my actions and the pain they caused,” referring to the recently disclosed emails that highlighted his friendship with Epstein.
Jeffrey Epstein, before his death in 2019 while awaiting trial, was known for his high-profile connections, including ties with U.S. Presidents Bill Clinton and Donald Trump, and Prince Andrew. The House Oversight Committee’s release of emails last week revealed that Summers not only sought Epstein’s advice on personal matters but also engaged in conversations that echoed controversial views on gender intelligence differences.
Summers’ association with Epstein is not new, as flight logs from 2015 indicated his presence on Epstein’s private plane, and his name appeared in Epstein’s 2014 calendar. In response to the current revelations, Summers stated his intention to withdraw from public roles to “repair relationships with the people closest” to him.
His decision comes amid public criticism, notably from Senator Elizabeth Warren, who once taught at Harvard Law School. Warren, addressing CNN, remarked, “Summers’ relationship with Epstein demonstrates monumentally bad judgment.” She further argued that Summers should not be in positions of influence given his past associations.
Summers’ stance has been met with mixed reactions, with him emphasizing the importance of fulfilling teaching responsibilities in a TikTok video to his students. Meanwhile, Warren reiterated her position on social media, asserting, “Larry Summers cozied up to the rich and powerful — including a convicted sex offender. He cannot be trusted in positions of influence.”
