Key Points:
- Larry Summers is taking leave from Harvard and resigning from OpenAI’s board after newly released Epstein emails intensified scrutiny.
- Harvard has launched a review into faculty ties to Jeffrey Epstein following the document release.
- Major media outlets have also ended their contributor relationships with Summers.
Summers Takes Leave as Harvard Opens Review
Former Treasury Secretary Larry Summers is stepping away from multiple high-profile roles as Harvard University investigates his correspondence with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
Summers announced Wednesday night that he would pause his teaching duties and take leave as director of the Mossavar-Rahmani Center for Business and Government at the Harvard Kennedy School. His co-instructors will complete the remaining sessions of the semester, and he is not scheduled to teach in the spring.
The decision follows Harvard’s confirmation that it is reviewing information revealed in more than 20,000 documents released by the House Oversight Committee. The files, drawn from Epstein’s estate, include extensive email exchanges showing years of communication between Summers and Epstein—continuing through July 2019, just one day before Epstein’s arrest on federal sex trafficking charges.
University spokesman Jonathan Swain said Harvard is evaluating what actions may be appropriate based on the newly disclosed material. Summers, who served as Harvard’s president from 2001 to 2006, acknowledged in a previous statement that he made a “misguided decision” by continuing to communicate with Epstein and said he takes full responsibility.
The released documents reveal that Summers at times sought Epstein’s advice on personal relationships and discussed workplace themes, though he has not been accused of involvement in Epstein’s criminal activity.
Media organizations have also moved to distance themselves. The New York Times confirmed it will not renew Summers’ contributor contract, while Bloomberg said he is no longer a paid commentator. Summers had been a frequent guest on economic programs across both outlets.
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Departure from OpenAI and Growing Political Pressure
Summers also resigned from the board of directors at OpenAI on Wednesday, saying the move aligned with his plan to step back from public commitments. He joined the board in late 2023 during a tumultuous period marked by CEO Sam Altman’s brief removal and reinstatement. OpenAI’s board expressed appreciation for Summers’ service and perspective.
The controversy has rippled into national politics. Former President Donald Trump publicly urged the Justice Department to investigate Epstein’s ties to Summers and other prominent figures, even as Trump faces renewed scrutiny over his own past association with Epstein. Meanwhile, Sen. Elizabeth Warren said Harvard Kennedy School should sever ties entirely with Summers.
Congress this week approved a bipartisan measure directing the Justice Department to release all remaining Epstein files, further elevating public interest in the case.
Summers had initially planned to continue teaching while reducing his public profile, but the intensifying attention surrounding the document release prompted a more sweeping retreat. As Harvard’s review proceeds and OpenAI moves forward without him, Summers’ future public role remains uncertain amid the deepening fallout.