Larry Summers Steps Back from Harvard Roles Amid Epstein Investigation

Former Harvard University President and U.S. Treasury Secretary Larry Summers has taken a leave from his teaching duties and resigned from multiple positions following the release of emails revealing his continued association with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

A spokesperson for Summers announced that he would step back from his role as director of the Mossavar-Rahmani Center for Business and Government at the Harvard Kennedy School.

Harvard University has initiated an internal investigation into individuals named in the newly released Epstein documents, including Summers.

Summers has also resigned from the board of OpenAI, the maker of ChatGPT, and from Santander's international advisory board, which he chaired.

In a statement, Summers expressed deep regret over his actions, acknowledging the pain they have caused, and stated his intention to rebuild trust and repair relationships with those closest to him.

The released emails, part of a cache of 23,000 documents made public by the House Oversight Committee, reveal that Summers and Epstein maintained a friendly relationship, exchanging messages on various topics, including personal matters, long after Epstein's 2008 conviction.

The revelations have prompted criticism from public figures, including Senator Elizabeth Warren, who called for Harvard to sever ties with Summers, citing his poor judgment as disqualifying for educational roles.

Summers' decision to step back from public commitments marks a significant shift in his professional engagements as he seeks to address the fallout from his association with Epstein.